Photoalbum

There were special bags from reindeer or seal skin (tashkvus) used for carrying the cargo. The Saami never rode on reindeer`s backs.

In winter reindeer were the only means of transport in tundra. Before 1890, that was before coming of the Izhemtsy, the Saami used "kerezhas" ("keres`") - special sledges.

"Kerezha" may be related to the oldest type of sledges; it was something between a boat and skis. It was widespread among both the Kola and Scandinavian Saami and the form of it never changed in the course of time. No other northern nation used this kind of sledges. "Kerezha" looked like a narrow boat with a stern cut off. The centre of it was a curved runner (el`) made from birch or fir-tree. Along the runner there were 5 pairs of 7 curved rids, fastened to 3-4 narrow desks on each side, which formed the boards of "kerezha". A cone-like bow was a little bit uplifted so that "kerezha" wouldn`t dig into deep snow; the back of the sledge was bent back for the sitter`s convenience. Light and cargo sledges differed by their size. Not long ago the boards of "kerezha" were interlaced by tree roots or fastened with wooden nails. There was an iron ring on the back of the sledge: it was used for tying reindeer when traveling in a row of sledges. During long crossings a dry grass was put in the front part of the sledge - for keeping warmth; feet were covered with reindeer skin and fastened with a belt. Usually only one reindeer drew the sledge, rarely - two.

Reindeer harness consisted of a belt which was used instead of a horse`s collar (lyanke), a saddle (ninder) and a "tyazh" (potskas) connecting the belt with "kerezha". "Tyazh" made from skin or sea animal skin was fastened to the horse`s collar with a ring, then it was stretched between reindeer`s legs and connected with the belt. Reindeer had a belt with two bones fastened to it on its forehead - it helped to keep to one direction. The reins (vyjemlanke) were fastened to the forehead belt; when reindeer moved the reins pressed on the left or right side of forehead so it made the animal turn in the necessary direction. "Horej" ("hare") - a 6 meters long pole with a blunt end - also helped in riding reindeer. At the same time "horej" functioned as a whip. During long crossings, especially with children, the backside of the sledge was equipped with birch hoops covered with reindeer skin. Such a sledge was called "balk". It is still made nowadays. Before coming of the Izhemtsy and spreading of two-runner "narty"-like sledges for transporting cargos, the Saami used two-runner sledges with low "chunki".

Nowadays the Saami don`t use "kerezhas" any more; they have been substituted by the Nenetz sledges called "soan`" or "soan" by the Saami. These sledges consist of two runners (el`) and are 2-2,5 or even 3 meters long.

The sledge was drawn by 3-5 reindeer: the leading reindeer (vujik-jerik), the second (pilej) and 2 or 3 additional reindeer. The Saami usually rode castrated male reindeer called "bulls". The leading reindeer, the strongest and the most trained, stood to the left; the second reindeer stood beside it; and then followed the rest - very often young reindeer (hiresy) and female ones (vazhenki). The Saami had a peculiar type of reindeer team, which started to spread with the coming of the Izhemtsy; but the names of separate parts are those of the Saami. A reindeer horn was used in making solid details of the harness (buckles and buttons).

"Horej" was 8 meters long. The length of this pole, having a bone or wooden tip, depended on which reindeer had to be hit. Lazy reindeer were slightly hit on their backsides while naughty ones - on the back of their heads. When it was necessary to stop "horej" was thrown to the left on the snow and reindeer stopped moving. Good reindeer covered 80-100 kilometers a day. Riding a reindeer is not so boring as riding a horse. Both men and women can ride reindeer. Every 30-40 minutes of fast riding (up to 20 km/h) reindeer are stopped for a 5-minute rest.

Riding is not so fast when reindeer run in a row (rajda) and carry a cargo: they cover not more than 25-30 kilometers a day. At night the Saami sleep in "kuvaksa" - a special dwelling, and reindeer are left free for feeding. Places for the rest should be rich in reindeer moss.

The Saami prefer white reindeer. Earlier such reindeer were made sacrifices to the spirit-master. White reindeer were given to young girls as a dowry. A holiday women`s riding on reindeer was very picturesque: 3-4 white reindeer were decorated with beautiful harness. Such holiday harness consisted of a saddle-girth (venter`) decorated with colourful cloths and embroidered with beads, a similar collar (kelrissem), a forehead belt (peleplan`) and triangle pendants on shoulders (nishknur`).

The Voronenskie and Iokan`gskie Saami used the so-called "sledge-huts" (soan`-part) which appeared before the revolution. Such "sledge-huts" were used by reindeer-breeders, fishermen and woodcutters when they were far away from their settlement. The construction of it looked the following way: a broad desk was put on the sledge; thin wooden plates formed the floor and the walls. The walls were covered with canvas and veneer. Inside there was a small chimney with a pipe. Such a "sledge-hut" with a cargo in it could be easily drawn by 4-5 reindeer.

In winter the Saami got some profit from using transport. In spring they drove the Pomors from Kandalaksha to the Kola coast.