The birds I saw were Snow-buntings (Emberiza nivalis); Green Plovers in great plenty, (Charadrius pluvialis,) called by the Laplanders Hutti; and Wheat-ears. (Motacilla Oenanthe.)
The Laplanders of this neighbourhood do not often take the diversion of shooting. They are seldom masters of a fowling-piece; and when not occupied in following or attending the reindeer, they remain in idleness for whole days together, feeding on nothing but milk, and the dishes prepared from it.
I satisfied myself here that the crackling noise made by the reindeer does not originate in the hoof, nor in the lowermost joint of the foot.
The women of this neighbourhood smoke tobacco as well as the men. Every body learns to smoke about the age of twelve or fifteen.
Whenever I gave my host about an ell of twisted tobacco, I was sure to obtain in return a cheese of double its value.
The large-flowered Cerastium (C. alpinum)
was here every where in abundance, and the prickly Lycopodium. (L. Selaginoides?).
The neighbouring mountain abounded with a very black fissile aluminous stone.
The surface of the snow appeared to have a vibratory motion, like water slightly agitated, or like a large white sail swelled by the wind.
All the inhabitants of this neighbourhood wore garments made of reindeer skins.