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408 ACCOUNT OF DANISH LAPLAND BY LEEMS.
pally inufe. This above from the ftern to the prow, ‘is quite open, and fo flight that it
can be carried in hand any where ; fo fhort, that the driver can touch at once with his
back the ftern, and the prow with his feet: fo narrow as to fqueeze on each fide the
ribs of him, who fits in the fore part of it, fo low that the driver if he inclines but
a little on either fide, he may touch the fnow with his elbow. He takes care, who drives
to put a fkin under him, to fit foft upon. The fledge which is called Raido-Kierres, is”
a waggon, fitted for receiving and carrying parcels: it is rather longer, broader, and
deeper, and fince it is open as well as the other, when laden, it 1s covered over wiih
fkins of rein-deer, or fome other covering. The covering, with which the waggon
is tight bound, left the parcels fhould be injured by rains and fnows, is made of
a thick yarn, twifted from the fibres in the feet of the rein-deer, and often faftened
round, as is ufual in coverings braced up tight. No apertures are feen in the fides
of the waggon, by which the binding thread is pafled, but it is inferted in certain
handles in the fides which are added for this purpofe. The fledge called Pulke, is fit
for exercife, and is befmeared on the outfide with pitch, after the manner ofa boat. It
refembles in every thing the fledge called Giet-Kierres, with the exception, that this
is opened behind, before it is covered with the fixin of a feal, which goes from the prow
to the knees of the driver, but all the reft is open. Another woollen covering is attach-
ed to that of the feal fkin, which coming over the lap, the rider keeps the fnow heaped
in on him whilft driving; but it is drawn together i the fame manner, as the covering
of the fledge Raids: Kierres, of which mention has been made above. He then who fits
in this fledge takes care to cover his feet with the fkin of the feal, and his lap with the
woollen covering drawn tight together with thongs, fo that the upper part of the body
alone is unfheltered and expofed. Befides fkins to fit on, as I have noted above con-
cerning the fledge called Pudke, are laid under the drivers. The fledge which in Lap-
land is called Lok-Kierres, is befmeared outfide with pitch, and ferves for carry-
ing provifions. It is a little larger than the above-mentioned Pu/ke and Giet-Kierres,
made from planks fitly joined together, as not to fufler a drop of water to pafs through.
{t has a wooden deck, as in fhips, running from the {tern to the prow, but which rifes a
little in the middle, and comes out with a round fwelling, whereas the deck of fhips are
levelled by rule and plane. A bolt is fixed to the extremity of the deck, at the flern,
which, when any thing is wanted out, is opened and fhut again. The Laplanders
raife up their fledges, beyond their ordinary ufe, about their cot, in a certain wooden
machine called, Bi/dagak, and made for this purpofe, (though very frequently they roll
them on the fnow,) that they fhould ferve the purpofe of cupboards, for keeping the
raw meat of the rein-deer and other neceflaries of fubfiftence.
Concerning the mode of driving and of carriage, and what it is inamong the people
of that nation, the following obfervations come into ufe. When any one is ready to
drive, he firfts puts on his gloves, with the hairy fide turned infide, which when done,
fitting on his fledge, he faftens to his right thumb the rein, the other extremity bein
faftened to the head of the rein-deer, who is quiet with the rein refting on his lett
fide.
The Laplander fitting in his fledee, and juft going to let off the rein-deer, after
fhaking very fwiftly the rein, hits him on each fide, on which ftarting forward, he dif-
patches the longeft journies with an incredible {peed. And as the rein-deerin running
does not go in a ftraight line, but turns this way and that about, there is a neceflity that
the driver fhould direct him with the rein, that he fhould reach the place, whither he
intended. If heis toturn to the right, the driver hits the rein on that fide, and fo by
tums. Hence it is that the track of a fledge in the fnow, on account of the unfteady
10 gait
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