Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 29, 1918.djvu/196

 1 86 Some Mythical Tales of the Lapps

even to that. When she was dying, she spitefully caused her reindeer to disperse, and changed them into other animals. Some became frogs and toads, and therefore these creatures must not be disturbed. One kind of beetle {Silpha lapponica) is also a descendant of her herd.

Njavvis-ene's herd of reindeer increased so fast that she could not tend them all, and a great number escaped.

Mankind multiplied, and food became insufificient. In the Golden Age men had taken milk from the springs ; now they learned to milk reindeer. And, as milk was the gift of God, none must be thrown away. If any is spilt, it must be gathered up again. Still one may, with impunity, throw a little milk on the ground for the beetles who represent the herd of Attjis-ene, for they must be fed.

As reindeer increased, they wandered further afield, and became more shy. So the Dog was installed in the service of men, the Laplander's best friend. In one case, however, he threatens misfortune, — if he is neglected in his old age ; and therefore the Laplanders are very careful to kill their dogs when they are old, but before they are too old.

It is also told of Attjis-ene that, after her departure from Njavvis-ene, when she became more wicked every day, she was impregnated by the North Wind, and bore a son, Atsits, who is also called Attjevits and Askevits, and whom the Swedes call Askfis. He was harsh and strong like his father ; jealous, arrogant and sly like his mother. He ill-treated reindeer, pulling off their horns, and playing all manner of tricks. At last he even bantered the Moon, his mother's father, because he was paler than the Sun. And therefore he was cast up into the Moon, and sits there still, with ;i reindeer's horn in one hand, while in the other he holds his own head, which was cut off as a punishment for his crimes. Anyone who has good eyes can see him.

The good daughter of the Sun, Njavvis-ene, lived long. When she felt that death was drawing near, she asked to