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194 REGNARD’S JOURNEY TO LAPLAND.
a quantity of fand in fummer from the coafts of Norway, that they leffen the view to
fuch a degree, as to render it impoflible to’ fee two {teps diftant ; and in winter, they
drive fuch a quantity of fnow, that they bury the huts, and whole flocks. When the
Laplanders are fuddenly furprifed on the road with one of thefe ftorms, they have no
means of defence, than that of over-turning their fledge over them, and remaining in
this pofture, as long as the ftorm continues; others retire into the cavities of mountains
with all that they can take along with them, and remain in thefe caves, till the tempelt,
which continues fometimes eight or fifteen days, fhall have wholly fubfided.
Of all the animals of Lapland, there are none fo common as the rein-deer, whom I
have already fo particularly defcribed. Nature, like a kind mother, has provided for
countries, cold as thofe of the north, in giving them a number of animals, fit for pro-
viding them with furs, which defend them againft the exceflive rigours of winter, and
which laft forages. Among thofe whofe {kins are moft elteemed for their warmth,
thofe of the bear and the wolf hold the firft rank. The former animal is very common
in the north; the Laplanders call him king of the foreft. Although the -bear is
generally of ared colour, yet fome are neverthelefs obferved to be white ; and there is
no animal againft which the Laplander wages fuch a cruel warfare, as this, in order
that he may procure his fkin and his flefh, which he reckons the moft delicate of all
food. I have fometimes eaten of it, but it appeared to my tafte extremely infipid.
The chafe of the bear is the moft folemn action of the Laplander; nothing is more
glorious among this people than to killa bear, and they carry evidences of their having
done fo about with them ; fo that, it is eafy to fee how many bears a Laplander has
killed, by the hair of them, which he carries in various places of his bonnet. He who
has made the difcovery of fome bear, goes to inform his companions ; and he whom they
believe to be the greateft forcerer plays upon the tabor to learn whether the chace will
be profperous, and on what fide, the animal ought to be attacked. When this ceremony
is over, they march again{t the animal; he who knows the {pot marches firft, and leads
the reft, until they arrive at the den of the bear. There, they furprife him in the fpeedieft
manner they can; and with arrows, lances, fticks, and firelocks, they kill him. Whilft
they are attacking the animal, they all fing a fong in thefe words : Kihelis pourra, Kihelis
iifcada foubi sella seitti. ‘They beg earneftly of the bear that he will do them no mifchief,
and that he will not break the lances and other arms which they employ to deftroy him.
When they have killed him, they put the body into a fledge to carry it to the hut: and
the rein-deer who has been employed to remove it, is exempted during the whole year
from labour in this fledge ; and means are alfo taken te prevent him from approaching
any female. ‘Chey con{truéct a hut for the exprefs purpofe of drefling the bear, which
is employed in no other manner, and in which the huntfmen attend with their wives,
and begin again their fongs of joy and of thanks to the animal, that they have been
allowed to return in fafety. After the meat has been dreffed, it is divided between the
men andthe women. ‘Lhe latter are unable to eat any of the hind parts, but always
partake of the fore part. The whole day is pafled in rejoicing ; but it deferves to be re-
marked, that all thofe who have affifted in taking the bear, mutt not approach their wives
for three days, at the end of which, they mutt bathe themfelves in order to be purified.
I had forgotten to obferve, that when they have arrived with the bear near to the
hut, they do not carry it in at the door, but cut it in pieces and throw them
in at the hole through which the fmoke iflues, in order that it may appear, to have
been fent and defcended from heaven. ‘They do the fame, when they return from
the chace of other animals. ‘There is nothing more e(fltimable in the opinion ofa
Laplander, than to aflift at the death of a bear, and he glories in it all his life-time.
The fkin of a bear generally cofts
2 The
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