ABSTRACT
REINDEER milk finds its proper use in nourishing the household, and the whey also supplies a suitable drink. 1 The hide serves as a covering for men and women, both their bodies and their beds, and, in fact, is also put to use for horsemen’s saddles, leather bags, and the bellows of different craftsmen, since it is exceedingly firm, strong, and lasting. 2 The sinews are assigned for stitching clothes, in place of flax, which does not grow there because of the cold, and are prepared in such a way that they resemble thread, as I explained above in Bk IV, Ch. 10, about fastening boats together where there is no iron. 3 The bones and antlers are delivered to makers of bows and crossbows, who eagerly seek these items, which they obtain by barter. 4 Again the hooves are beneficial to anyone with convulsions. 5 The hair goes into stuffing and softening horses’ saddles or the cushions which are used for making guests welcome and moderating the winter’s cold. This animal’s meat is excellent and health-giving. Once it has been salted and dried in the wind it will last for several years, though in the mean time it is the people’s habit to add to the old meat fresher carcases from their hunting.
