United States or Afghanistan ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
These dogs were strange looking, a breed I had never seen; they had the dark color of the brown bear, and were without tails. A man came out to silence them. He was the owner of the tent, the friend of Pehr Wasara. He bade us in, we were made welcome, and the snuffbox was passed around.
Pehr Wasara alighted and led his reindeer, for fear of striking against them, and I did likewise. It was a relief to move one's legs, for it is very tiresome to sit for hours with legs stretched out. Afterwards we got again into our sleighs, and at the end of a pleasant drive we reached our own tent and I was received with a hearty welcome by the family.
Wherever we turned we discovered holes and mounds, until we came to fresh furrows of sleighs and knew that these led to an encampment. We had succeeded in getting out of the honeycombed track into a smooth and open region. All at once I noticed that Pehr Wasara was going much faster than I did. I was losing ground. His reindeer seemed now to fly over the snow.
Coffee was made and served to us with true Lapp hospitality, but to my taste it was seasoned with a little too much salt. We had a grand time. A big kettle filled with reindeer meat was cooked, and Pehr Wasara told his friend all the news, and how his son had come with me to see him.
Then they got up and clasped hands in farewell. "This time there were no rappings," Pehr remarked. "Strange you should have thought of coming here," said Björn. "We brothers have had some difficulty in maintaining peace, when we've met of late." "Did you think that I would want to quarrel to-day?" "No, but I become angry when I think of having to lose you!" They walked together down to the road.
The skin belonging to the forehead between the eyes, and from the knees to the hoofs, was cut off from the rest of the hide. "This," said Pehr Wasara, "will be for shoes and gloves;" and each piece was stretched on wooden frames, likewise the skin of the carcass. The tongues were set aside, the host saying to me, "If it were summer we would smoke them." The sinews were collected for thread.
Pehr must hold up his little mouth to be kissed, again and again; the mother shook us warmly by the hand, and the father harnessed his horse and started with us. May the blessing of God be upon all poor, honest, and contented people! Our road led between wooded hills to the Siljan-Forss, a large iron-foundry upon a stream which flows into the Siljan Lake.
We never overfeed them; it is the only way to keep them hardy, strong, and healthy. They are not allowed to rest until their master or mistress has returned to the tent. Then we want them to stay out doors." "I should like very much," I said to Pehr, "to see how you break in reindeer and accustom them to harness." "Well," he replied, "you will see how we train our reindeer to draw sledges.
The animal reached the bottom, and before I knew it made a sharp curve to prevent the sleigh striking his legs. I gave a shout of joy. I had not upset. I felt quite proud. At the next hill I was more proud than ever, for Pehr Wasara upset and I did not, but I had never seen a Lapp get quicker into a sleigh than he did. Further on Pehr stopped and waited for me.
Our boat was not so large as the netting boat; it was not decked over. Captain Johansen steered. The men of our crew were Mats, Pehr, Anders, Ole, Knut, and Roar. Captain Johansen had fished in the Arctic regions for forty-two consecutive years. His face had been permanently reddened by the wind.
Word Of The Day