HOW THE LAPLANDERS DRESS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 5, 30 January 1892, Page 114

HOW THE LAPLANDERS DRESS.

The costume of the Laps has not altered very much in the last thousand years. Their summer garment is usually of coarse woollen goods, and has something the cut of a shirt with a high collar. Among the sea Laps it is for the most part undyed: among the other Laps usually blue, sometimes green or brown, and even black smock-frocks have been seen. Around the wristbands, along the seam in the back, ami on the edges this smock is ornamented with stripes of red and yellow cloth. I'nder this garment is a similar one, either plain or figured, worn next the body, for the Lap never wears linen underclothing. The trousers are of white woollen goods, rather narrow and reaching to the ankles, where they are tied inside the shoes with leggings of thin, tanned skins, reaching from the ankles to the knees. Stockings the Lap never wears. He fills the upward curving tip of his shoes with a sort of grass, which is gathered in summer, and beaten to make it soft and pliable. The winter costume only differs from that worn in summer in that every piece is made of reindeer skin with the hair •iff. The dress of the women differs slightly from that worn by the men. The smock is somewhat longer, and is made without the big standing collar, instead or which a kerchief or cape is worn about the neck. To the woven and often silver ornamented girdle hang a knife, scissors, key, needle and thread. The head covering is not only different in the two sexes, but also differs according to the locality.