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TRAVELS OF EHRENMALM. 37%
of a lemon: a little beyond is feen a third ftreak, fhorter, and of the fame colour, bur
not fo ftrong. The back is dyed like that of a fmall marbled perch ; and the belly is of a
fire colour, which varies in the two great divifions made on each fide, by the two ftreaks
which extend to the right and left along the body. This colour is more dufky on the
fore part of the back, and clearer towards the other extremity. ‘The edge near the
head is of the fame colour as the back ; but it becomes lighter as it approaches the fin,
where the colour of the pale fire changes by degrees about the navel into a yellowith
colour. This fifth, covered with fpots like the trout, alfo refembles it by the form of the
head, and the parts compofing it: neverthelefs the eyes are larger, and a little more
elevated, the bone of the upper jaw fhorter, and that of the lower longer. Above the
jaws it is of a dufky green.
The palate is of a blood colour: it is divided into four parts; of which the firft has
twenty-two teeth, and each of the others twenty. ‘The colour of the fins is variable,
like that of the body of the fifth; they have each fourteen joints.
The prickles of the back are twelve in number, very pointed, and of a dufky green ;
the laft is double the lencth of the firft. ‘Thofe beneath the belly are of a bright yellow
in front ; towards the middle of a deep brown, the tint of which is fingular ; and towards
the extremity of a fire colour: there are nine on each fide.
This fifth feeds on the dead flies which fall into the water. Near a cafcade we faw
many little fith feizing on a dead fly ; but I cannot affirm that they were red fith.
For the reft, fimilar defcriptions can only intereft profefled naturalifts, by their in-
fin, to keep a regifter of every thing. But when a botanift defcribes all the leaves
of a plant, with an exd€inefs driving his readers to. defpair, a traveller may be allowed
to reckon the fpots and fins of a fifh. Lapland poffeflés fo few animals and terreftrial
plants, that the admirers of natural hiftory are reduced to ichthyology, for the food of
their curiofity ; as the Laplanders are to fifh, for the greateft refource of their ful
tenance.
Neverthelefs they Have befides their fifheries, green plants which they eat, fuch as
clover. Where the cattle feed on mofs, the fhepherds muf{t be contented with herbs.
The rein-deer are fo gentle atid quiet, that the women guard and lead them. ‘The care
of their children and flocks, which they raife and feed at the fame time, conftitutes
their principal occupation. A mother conduéts her rein-deer, having her child at her
breaft: fhe fuckles her children while making the young fawns graze. Thefe innocent
beings can fleep together without danger. The fhepherdefs fometimes beholds them
all fkipping and playing together without dread of accident. If tears. flow, they are
tears of joy. Her mind is not diltreffed, nor her heart torn, by the afflicting idea that
fhe nay one day behold this child of her breaft torn from her arms, to fhed in battle
the blood he has‘drawn from her.
The Laplanders of the mountains fubfift more on their rein-deer, and thofe of the
woods more on fifh. ‘Though the latter, living nearer to cultivated and populous coun-
tries, have lefs diftance to travel than the former, to traffic with their provifions, they
are neverthelefs more indigent. I am inclined to attribute their mifery to brandy: for
thefe two years they have purchafed it at a great price; and asI have been informed,
a crown was given la{t fummer for a glafs of brandy. Perhaps it may have been ima-
gined that this was the means of giving them a diflike to it, but it has only ferved to
impoverifh them. When a people are accuftomed to things which pleafe their tafte
and fenfes, but particularly to ftrong liquors, they will not renounce them. Itis a fnare
_ to give them thefe taftes; but it isa cruelty to make them pay an exorbitant price,
when-they have become accuftomed to them. bah ht "
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