Chapter IX: Part 9

Now the _Laplanders_ having such advantages from these beasts, take great care in driving them to their Meadows, and defending them from wild Beasts. They are so concerned for them, that they bring their Wives, Children, and Servants, to watch them in the pastures, and drive those that wander back to the Herd. When milking time comes, they drive them into folds, which are spots of ground, hedged in with hurdles stuck on forks, each fold having two doors, one by which they enter, the other which carries them out into their Medows. Their meat in Summer is the best grass the Mountains afford, with leaves of young Trees. They avoid all hard rough grass, especially where Bullrushes grow. The other Seasons of the year they feed on a kind of white Moss, which abounds in _Lapland_: when the Mountains are covered with Snow, they scrape out this Moss with their feet. And _S. Rheen_ observes that tho they get least food in the Winter quarter, they grow whiter and fatter then at other times, for in Summer the excessive heat makes them worse. These Cattel too are subject to disseases, which if once begun, spread and kill the whole Herd, but this very rarely. They are infected with that more frequently, which _Olaus_ describes. About _March_ worms or wornels do begin to breed in their backs, which when alive, creep out and make the Beasts skin, if then killed, full of holes, like a Seive, and almost useless.

The Wolves trouble them, tho they have their horns to defend themselves; but they are not alwaies so armed, for they cast their horns once a year, which grow again very slowly. The Does never cast theirs till they have calved. The Rain-deers use not their horns when they encounter the Wolves so much as their forefeet, with these they receive them coming on, otherwise their feet defend them by flight, which they can easily do, if not hindred by Snow. The third inconveniency is that if they be not very carefully lookt to, they will wander and be lost, therefore the owners put certain marks on them to distinguish them from others; their marks they put sometimes on their ears, and not their horns, because they cast them. But if they escape all accidents whatever, they never live above 10 years.

And thus much for the Rain-deers, which alone supply the want of Horses, Sheep, and other Cattel. Therefore the Inhabitants apply themselves only to the care of these, neglecting all the rest; besides Dogs, which faithfully watch their Houses and Cattel, and are very serviceable for hunting, as I have mentioned in that Chapter.

CHAP. XXIX.

_Of the wild Beasts of the_ Laplanders.

Of all the Beasts in _Lapland_ the Bear is chief: him saies _Sam. Rheen_, they stile King Of the Woods, and gives this reason, because in strength and fierceness he exceeds all the rest. They are very numerous, some fiercer than others, especially those which are mark’t with a white wreath about their necks, many of which are found in the North. These annoy the Inhabitants Cattel, and overturn their Stores; which they fix on the top of a Tree, to preserve their flesh and fish, and all that concerns provision: but in one night the Bear destroys all the food they have laid up.

Next the Bear the Elk is remarkable, which _Olaus_ calls the wild Asse, _Scaliger_ confounds it with the Rain-deer, for he saies, tho it had Asses hair, it was called by the _Swedes_, _Ranger_, by the _Goths_, _Rangifer_, by the _Germans_, _Ellend_, by the _Moscovites_, _Lozzi_, and some Books say that in _Norway_ they were named _Rehen_: what Books he means I am ignorant, but I am sure the _Elks_, which the _Germans_ call _Ellend_, were never called _Rehen_, but _Ælg_, or _Ælgar_, which is now the common name through all the North; neither can I think otherwise of the _Moscovites Lozzi_, for it is the same with the _Lithuanian Losso_, as _Herbestenius_ observes. That which the _Lithuanians_ call _Loss_, the _Germans_ call _Ellend_, and many in Latin _Alce_. So that _Loss_, _Lozzi_, _Ælg_, _Ellend_ is the same Beast, but quite different from the Rain-deer, contrary to what _Scaliger_ thought. For first it excells the Rain-deers in bulk not a little, being as high as any Horse; its horns are shorter, but above two palms in breadth, shooting out a few, tho not many young sprouts. His leggs are not round, but long, especially the foremost: he engages very smartly, and his sharp hoofs enable him to encounter all Men and Dogs that oppose. He hath a long head, and huge thick lips alwaies hanging down; his color is not so white, but all over his body it inclines to a dark yellow mixt with ashen: when he walks he makes no noise with his hoofs as all Rain-deers do; whoever sees both Beasts (as I have often) will perceive such difference, that he will wonder how any one should mistake. There is no great breed of these in _Lapland_, but they have them from other places, especially _Lithuania_. _Charles_ the ninth, by a public Proclamation claimed all the skins of those that were killed for his Exchequer, as I mentioned in another place. _Olaus_ saies that they continue altogether in the South of _Lapland_, and are taken most frequently by running them down, or hunting; in other places they are rarely found: but it is manifest that twice a year they swim in great Herds out of _Carelia_, over the River _Niva_, to wit, in the Spring to go into _Carelia_, and in Autumn to return into _Russia_. Some few Stags have bin seen in _Lapland_. _S. Rheen_ mentioning the chief Beasts which have bin found there, reckons severall species of four footed Beasts, as wild Rain-deers, Bears, Stags, Wolves, Gluttons, Beavers, Otters, Martins, Squirrels; but these Stags are but few and little, such as they call _Damacervi_, or _Platicerotes_, which since they have nothing peculiar from those in other nations, let it suffice that they are named. To these I may add wild Rain-deers, but because they differ from the tame ones only in bulk, being bigger, and in color somewhat blacker, I will likewise pass them over. _Sam. Rheen_ after the Stags mentions Wolves, of which there is a great number, distinguisht from those in other Countries only by their color, something whiter, whence they are often called white Wolves: their hair is thicker, longer and rougher. These most of all molest the Rain-deers, which are armed against them with their horn.

I find in some Papers of _Euræus_ that the Wolves did never assault the Rain-deer if it was bound to a stake: the reason may be because he fears some trap when he sees the rope that binds the Raindeer: for the Wolf is a very suspicious creature, and thinks every thing he sees to be a snare to catch him. Besides he may suspect that men lie hidden to kill him, whereas the Rain-deers are only bound for the better conveniency of milking them. Nevertheless, the Wolves venture not only on Beasts, but on Men and Women, especially those that are big with child. Travellers are forced to go armed, particularly Women near their time, for the Wolves take their scent and watch more greedily for them, therefore no Woman is permitted to travel without a guide assisting her. The next are the Gluttons, which are frequent here, they have a round head, strong and sharp teeth, like a Wolfs, a plump body, and feet shorter than the Otters: their skin is of a very dark color, some of them resemble Sables, only they have softer and finer haire; this Beast lives not altogether on Land, but many times in the Water, like the Otter, tho much bigger and stronger: some compare it to the Otter, but it is far greedier than he, for thence it gets its name. For _Olaus_ tells us that it is called by the _Swedes_, _Jerff_, by the _Germans_, _Wildfras_: but this German name doth not denote the Beast to eat much, but to devour what it finds in the Woods, for _wild_ signifies any thing in the Woods; wherefore either _Scaliger_ did not understand the word, or else the Printer did not follow his copy: which appears more plainely, from that the _Gulo_ doth not only infest wild Beasts, but tame (as hath bin often known in _Swedland_) and Water creatures too, being it self accustomed to the Waters.

There are abundance of Beavers in _Lapland_, because the Nation abounds with plenty of Fish, whence they have store of food: _Olaus_ thinks that the plenty of them proceeds from the quietness of the Waters, which are never troubled with Ships, as the _Rhine_ and _Danow_ are. I add nothing of these because they are not distinguish’d from the vulgar sort, neither are the Otters. Next to these _Sam. Rheen_ speaks of the Foxes, as being numerous, and of severall sorts over all _Lapland_. He reckons up, besides the common ones, those that are black, brown, ash-colored, white; and those that are marked with a cross. The black are most valued because they are rare: in _Moscovy_ Men of honor and preferment have their Caps made of their skins, which are sold, as _Herberstenius_ observes, for 10, sometimes 15 pieces of gold. Those that are marked with a cross, _Johnston_ calls _Crucigeræ_, and describes them thus: they have from their mouth, over their head and back to their tail a black streak, another crossing their back, and down to their forefeet, which two lines do resemble a cross. These are preferred before the common red Foxes, being bigger, and having thicker hair. The ashen-colored Foxes are those which _Johnston_ calls _Isatidæ_, their color is mixt of ash and blew, such as is the color of the woad, tho this color is not spread all over his body, nor is any single hair wholly of this color, for the longest hairs are black at the end, the shortest white, from both which this color results. _Olaus_ calls these _Celestine_, or sky-colored Foxes, where too he tells us that they are of less worth than the rest, and the white ones too, because their color is so, without the tincture of any other, such as Conies use to have. The reason is because their number is great, and their hair not durable: but that there is such abundance of these skins happens because the Foxes are more easily taken, not living in the Woods, but on the naked Mountains between _Norway_ and _Swedland_.

After the Foxes the Martins are mentioned. These too are frequent in _Lapland_, and indeed no Nation doth afford more or better skins than this doth. But these differ too, those that have yellow on their throat being preferred before the white: but this is observable that the _Laplanders_ have no Martins but in the Woods, and they have also a particular sort of meat, for they feed on Squirrels and Birds. In the night time, saies _Olaus_, by the advantage of their sharp claws they can easily climb any Tree, where they make a prey of the Squirrell, who is quite as nimble, tho not so strong, and therefore can sometimes save himself by skipping round the arm of a Tree: this the enemy cannot imitate, especially if the Squirrell leads him up to the top branches, otherwise he cannot escape, and leap from the top of one Tree to another. The Martin is not injurious only to the Squirrel, but to both small and great Birds, which he seizes on as they are at roost: if they be the greater Birds they presently betake themselves to flight with him sitting on their backs, and persisting to bite so long, till they drop down dead.

Next are the Squirrels, which are incredibly numerous. These particularly change their color every year. When Winter draws on they turn from red to grisle, which color is valued in the skin; this color the further the Beasts are Northwards, is the purer, and less mixt with red, and is so too the farther the Season is from Summer, at which time they are never hunted, but all in the Winter. Tho they do so abound, yet they are wont to go away in such troops, till there are scarce any left. The reason of their departure is not known: some think it is because they fear hunger and foresee the want of meat. Others think it is to avoid the injury of the weather. _Rheen_ and _Ol. Pet._ describe their march on this wise. They go to the brinks of a River, where they find the bark of Pine, or Birch trees, on which they trust themselves, and venture to launch forth, pricking up their tailes for sailes. Thus they are carried at the mercy of the wind till it overturns them and their bark. Their body is of that nature that it will not sink, but being drowned, is driven to shore, where very often great numbers are taken up, and their skins, if they are found soon enough are as fit for use as ever: but, tho such an accident, as this, sweeps away most of them, yet the few that are left preserve the species, and multiply very soon, for each Squirrel brings forth 4, 5, or more at a time. And those are all the Beasts which _S. Rheen_ mentions.

But besides these, there are others, such as are the _Sables_ which _Olaus Magnus_ calls _Zabelli_, their skins _Johnston_ in his History of Animals commends. _Olaus_ saith that their skins were made use of by the _Lapland_ Women, especially by the Brides to adorn themselves with them; and that there is but small plenty of them in these parts. Some make this beast like a weezel, others especially _Scaliger_ like the Martin, and indeed he seems to be in the right both to the bulk and shape of it. Their color the nearer it comes to black is the more esteemed. There are found several all white, such as we have often seen the _Muscovian_ Embassadors bring over to the King for a most singular present. By which _Adamus Bremensis_ in his _Scandinavia_ seems to have understood white Martins. There are also Ermins which are found only among the _Laplanders_. _Jovius_ first wrote of them that they were good exchange for any sort of Merchandize. These Ermins are nothing but white weezels having the end of their tails black, _Johnston_ takes notice thereof out of _Albertus Magnus_, he calleth the beast _Erminius_, which is the same thing with _Armelinus_ and _Hermelinus_, differing neither in bigness nor nature from the weezel, the color argues nothing, for he has that only in Winter, but in Summer is of a bright yellow. It is as greedy of Mice as the Weezels are, whence the _Sweeds_ call it _Lekat_. I am unwilling to call it with _Scaliger_ a _Swedland_ Mouce. Among these I had rather reckon a little sort of beast which they call _Lemmus_, which _Olaus Magnus_ saith the Ermins feed on, _Samuel Rheen_ speaks of a sort of Mice found in Lapland which they call Mountain Mice or _Lemblar_, which _Wormius_ describes with short tails and staring hair, and not unlike a Mouce. I will speak little of their color, which _Olaus_ saies is various, _Samuel Rheen_ affirms it red, who observes too that they come of a sudden, and cover the ground with their multitude. _Olaus_ observes that this is alwaies in stormy weather, and thinks that it rains these creatures, but is all together in a doubt, whether they are brought thither by the Winds, or bred in the clouds. _Wormius_ thinks plainly that they are bred in the clouds: but the learned _Isaac Vossius_ in his notes to _Pomponius Mela_ corrects him, and saies the reason why these animals are supposed to fall from the Clouds is because they use not to appear, but immediatly after rain they creep out of their holes, either for that they are fill’d with water, or because this creature thrives much in rain, which opinion seems most probable to me. These creatures are very bold, never making their escape when Passengers come by, but keep on their way, and make a noise like the barking of a dog: they fear neither club nor sword, but if any one strike at them, they turn again and bite. It is observable in them that they never go near or do any mischeif in any hut, sometimes they set upon one another, being divided as it were into two armies, this the _Laplanders_ take to be an omen of future war in _Swedland_, and gather whence the enemy will come, by observing whence those animals first moved that provoked the rest. These creatures have their enemies too, first the Ermines as I mentioned before, then the Foxes, which bring a great number of these into their holes: hence the _Laplanders_ have no small disadvantage, for the Foxes using this sort of food most, regard not the baits which they lay to catch them. Thirdly the Rain-deers devour them, and lastly the dogs which eat only the fore part of them. These creatures never live, if they chance to eat any herb grown after they had tasted it before: sometimes they perish otherwise, as being choaked in the Hedges or dropping into Water. The last sort of beasts are hares, which are esteemed for their white skin, especially in the winter, at which time they are as white as the Foxes; they change their color every year, alwaies turning white towards this season; for which tho many reasons may be given, I think this is most considerable, that Nature and Providence designed it, least when the ground was quite cover’d with Snow, their color might easily discover them, and they being equally oppressed by man and beast should be quite destroy’d. For which reason too, probably some birds at that time are White. _Olaus Magnus_ testifies the same of hares, that immediatly after Autumn they begin to grow white, and at that time are frequently taken half white and half not, but in the midst of the Winter they are all white as before.

CHAP. XXX.

_Of their Birds and Fish._

I come now to the Birds, of which here is great store. _Samuel Rheen_ mentions these, Swans, Geese, Ducks, Lapwings, Snipes, all sorts of water Birds, and wild fowl, as Heathcocks, Stock-doves, Partridges, Woodcocks; he makes a distinction between water fowle and those that are bred in Woods, and proves that they abound with each sort, because the country has so many pools, ponds, and woods. Of these birds, some are in other countries, some only in these Northern parts. Swans, Geese and Ducks, are known every where: he means wild ducks, for they have no tame ones. _Olaus Petri_ takes notice of the same thing. It is remarkable in these wild foul, that they come from the South into the North, where they build their nests, hatch and breed up their young ones, which is not frequent elsewhere. I believe it is because they do not find such security nor plenty of food in other places. The Snipes I suppose are scarce found any where else, their back and head are black, and most part of their wings, white on their breast and belly, red bills, very long, and set with teeth, short feet and red with skin between their claws, as all water fowle have. As you may see in the next page.

To this we may add that sort of Bird called _Loom_, which _Samuel Rheen_ omitted, unless he comprehended them under the water-fowle in general, for there is such a number of them, and so various, that the particulars would take up too much time: _Olaus Wormius_ has a draught of this bird, it is no sort of duck, as appears by its bill, which is not broad but sharp. This bird peculiarly goes not upon land, but alwaies either flies or swims, it hath feet very short for the proportion of its body, and standing so much back, that tho they are very convenient for swimming, yet it cannot so poise its body on land as to be able to go: hence it is called _Loome_, which signifies lame or unable to go. Of the wild fowl that which _Samuel Rheen_ calls _Kiæder_ and we render _Wogallon_, intimating the biggest sort, is named _Cedron_ near _Trent_, if _Gesner_ may be credited, who describes the rest very probably: but as to the color of the Hen, which he affirms does differ nothing from the Cock, he is mistaken; for the color is quite yellow with black specks. The same may be observed of the Stock-doves which he calls the lesser _Urogalli_, for the hen differs from the cock, he being all black, and she yellow, like the hen of the Heathcock, from which she is distinguist by nothing but bigness. _Olaus Magnus_ because the Color was not exactly yellow, called it ashen, for sometimes it is composed of both these, most enclining to an ash. There are no other sort of wild cocks, then those the _Sweeds_ call _Orrar_ and the Latines _Tetraones_ or _Urogalli minores_: their combs are the same with the _Urogalli_, placed not on the top of their heads, but above each eie, which the painter not understanding drew them from his own tame cocks. Some call these birds Pheasants, but whoveer compares them, will discern two distinct species. Both sorts are found in _Lapland_, but the latter not so frequent; nor are the others equally plentiful every year, for in some there are none. I come now to the woodcocks, which I think is the right name; the _Swedes_ have a bird which they call _Jærpe_, and the _Germans_ _Haselhun_, but it is doubted whether these are the same with the woodcock, for they do not frequent marshes as the woodcocks do, but live altogether in woods and groves, whence _Rheen_ reckons them among that sort of fowle which inhabit the woods. However, there is plenty of these birds in _Lapland_, and they afford good meat for the inhabitants; but no bird abounds there more then the White Partridge, not only in the woods but on the highest Mountains, even then when they are covered with Snow. I call it _Lagopos_ which _Samuel Rheen_ sometimes _Fialriipor_ or _Snioeripor_, the _Germans_ and especially the _Helvetians_ term is _Schnæhuner_, _i. e._ Snow-hens, or _Shnævoigil_, _i. e._ Snow-birds, because they delight in Snow and to dwell on the top of the Alpes. They have a kind of hair instead of Feathers, and hears feet, whence they are called _Lagopodes_. _Samuel Rheen_ describes them thus, that in the Winter they are as white as Snow, having not one black feather, but that which the Hen has under her wing: when spring comes they turn grey like hen pheasants, and keep that color till Winter. _Olaus Magnus_ mentions a sort of snow birds, which naturally changes its white into ashen, but I can scarce believe he means the _Lagopodes_, because he speaks of their red feet, such as Storkes have, whereas the _Lagopodes_ much differ. Another thing _Samuel Rheen_ observes, that the _Lagopodes_ never sit on trees, as _Olaus_ his Snow-birds are painted, but are alwaies on the ground very active, scarce ever sitting still. Their shape is this.

The next is their Fish, of which they have incredible store; _Zeiglerus_ saies their draughts are so great, that they are forced to transport some of them into other Countries. _Jovius_ speaks too of great plenty they reap from the Seas, because he is describing those _Laplanders_ which live near _Muscovy_: whereas the rest can have plenty enough out of the rivers. The best sort they have is Salmon, for which _Olaus Magnus_ saith there is not better fishing in any part of _Europe_, then in the Bothnic towards _Lapland_; whose mountains send down vast rivers of fresh water, against which the Salmons come in such shoales, and with such vigor, that the Fishermen find them at the head of the river on the top of the mountains. _Samuel Rheen_ too prefers these fish before all the rest, and saith that they swim up all rivers that they are able, and come down again about S^t _Matthews_ tide. And that is much worse when it returns, then when it went up, which seems to be, because tis wearied and spent in strugling against the stream, and engendring; which it alwaies does in those parts of the river which are most remote from the Sea: when he comes up the river they call him _Salm_, at his return _lax_.

The 2^d sort of fish are Pikes, _Olaus Magnus_ speaking of this saith, that in _Lapland_ there are marshes of fresh water, 400 _Italian_ miles in length, and 100 in bredth, in which there is such abundance of Pike and other fish, that they do not only supply 4 Kingdomes, but are dried and transported farther into _Germany_ to be sold: these fish alwaies use fresh water, and are every where known having long heads, the lower jaw hanging out, many sharp teeth, which the Germans call _Hecht_. They are found sometimes to exceed men in length. _Olaus_ affirms, that if they have fresh water and food enough, they will attain to 8 foot in length.

The 3^d sort are those which the _Swedes_ call _Syck_, not much differing from the Carp; only they have longer mouths, and not so broad, they are commonly not so big as carps, but in _Lapland_ they are found extraordinary, sometimes weighing 10 or 12 pounds.

The 4^{th} sort is _Abbor_ which is with us a perch: this is very plentiful too, and frequently of an incredible bigness. There is to this day in a Chappel at _Luhlah_, kept one of their heads dried, which is from the top to the under jaw 2 spans thick. There are found water-weezels red and white, chiefly in the pools near the Sea. _Samuel Rheen_ speaks of 2 sorts which the _Swedes_ call _Ræding_, and _Ærlax_; whether they are any where else found I know not. _Rheen_ thus describes the first sort. _Ræding_, has its name from the red color on the lower part of its belly. The latter is very like a Salmon but not so big. Some take them for Salmons not come to their full growth, but this is an error, for these fishes are taken in pools, which are on every side parted from the Sea, and are known never to have any Salmons. I had rather refer them to the trout, or _Trutta_, because it scarce differs in shape, only the Trouts flesh is redder and softer. Besides these there are many other fish in _Lapland_, but not regarded, because they serve not for food, for which reason I pass them over: only _Olaus Petrus_ gives us this doubtful account of their names, _Salario, Cobitis, Barbatula, Rubellio, Borbocha ocutala, Prasinus, Cyprinus, Cobitis aculeata_. This Country breeds not many reptiles, no serpents: but this is meant of the upper Regions towards the _Norway_ Mountains, for in the low woody places they are found tho not many. There are but few insects; as for fleas they are quite unknown; but they receive much injury from gnats, which infest man and beast, especially the Rain-deers, which upon that account are driven away to the top of the highest Mountains. The men arm themselves against them by keeping a continual smoak in the house. If they sleep, they put a blanket over their body and head: when they go abroad they put on a garment made of hides, and on their heads cloth caps. I have bin told by the Natives, that many to defend themselves from this insect, dawb their faces all over, except their eies, with resine and pitch.

Besides these, there are great wasps which trouble the Rain-deers, and sting them so deep, that sometimes they leave marks behind them even when the beast is flayed: those little holes which they make with their stings the vulgar call _Kaorme_. The only remedy for the Raindeer against these, is smoak, which if not present they dip themselves in water: and let this suffice for their Animals.

CHAP. XXXI.

_Of the_ Laplanders _Trees and Plants_.

I descend from their Animals to their Trees and Plants, with which they are well stored, tho _Jovius_ observes that they have no fruit Trees, as Apple, Pear, &c. neither have they any wild Trees which will not bear the cold, as Oak, Beach, which _Ol. Pet._ takes notice of, but adds that they have plenty of Pine and Fir, Juniper and Birch, Service tree, and Willow, Alder and Dog-tree, the Asp and Ollar: but these Trees do not grow every where, for the Mountains called the _Fells_, between _Norway_ and _Lapland_, bear no Trees at all: _Pet. Claud._ thinks the reason of that to be the continual storm of wind that is on them, but perhaps a truer reason may be the extremity of cold. The ground that lies near the Mountains is thick set with Woods, with this distinction that the parts next them bears nothing but Birch tree, remarkable for their thickness and height, and pleasant prospect, Nature having contrived them so regularly that they seem afar off to be some pleasant Garden. The soil more distant from those Hills, besides Birch-trees, hath Fir and Pitch, which seems like some new kind of wood, composed of these three sorts.

Besides these, there are very few others found in _Lapland_. Shrubs, especially Currans, or Ribes are very frequent, but they regard not these because perhaps the tast is unpleasant, especially of those which bear Black-berries, which are more numerous than the others. The Junipers grow thick, being very tall and comely. This Country yields all manner of Berries, the chief are those which the _Swedes_ call _Hiortron_, some Dew-berries, or the _Norway_ Berry, whose species is the same that grows on Brambles, each Berry being divided as it were into graines of a pale yellow color, beginning to be red as they ripen. These commonly grow in marshy places. They creep on the ground, and are sustained by little props, so that they ought not to be reckoned among shrubs. The Berries are very wholsome, and are a present remedy for the Scurvy. The Inhabitants delight to eat them with their flesh and salt meats, as I mentioned before. They have a sort of black Berries, called by the _Swedes_, _Halton_, according to _Olaus Pet._ also the thin leaved heath, that bears a Berry, which some call ground Ewe, the _Swedes_, _Kraokebær_, the lesser black Berries called in _Swedland_ _Lingon_, and the lesser black Berries called _Blaobær_, all which _Olaus Pet._ takes notice of, speaking of their manner of dressing meat, particularly of the Heath-berries: whence it appears that these Berries were as plentifull with them as the former. They have all sorts of other Berries, tho the Natives do not so much value them. This Country affords very usefull Herbs, such as are Angelica, which the Inhabitant value so much that they call it the _Lapland_ herb, or Samigraes: they are much pleased with it in their meat: it grows with a short stalk, but thick. In the same place is found Sorrel, which they use too in their food. Some particular herbs they have which are not found any where else, as _Calceolum Lapponicum_, or _Brassica Rangiferorum_: what sort of herb it is _Sam. Rheen_ expresses in these words, which, tho tedious, I thought fit to transcribe that we might have his exact opinion it. There grows (saith he) an herb which they call _Calceolum Lapponicum_ because its flower is like the _Laplanders_ shoe, it is of a blew colour with three rowes of seed in the pod, it has larger leaves than the vulgar cabbage, its stalk is a finger thick and the root bitter: it grows extraordinary fast, and rises to three cubits in height, and somtimes more: it is thought a bad and unprofitable herb because no beast will tast of it. There is another herb very usefel and wholesome, and of great esteem among them, which _Olaus Pet._ take to be like a carrot, he says it is called _Mosaraoth_, haveing the tast and flower of Pimpervel growing in marshy grounds to an ell in height. That _Mosaraoth_ is not a _Lapland_ but _Swedish_ name, from _maosa_ which signifies marshy places where mosse grows, what the inhabitants call it, I cannot yet learn. And these are the peculiar herbs which this country hath: I have not met with any one that could help me to the exact shape of them. But altho this soil beare some peculiar herbs, yet there are not many species of them, which _Olaus Pet._ gathers from the _west-Bothnia_, which borders on _Lapland_, for in that place there are found but very few.

I come now to Mosse, which is of diverse sorts. The first is tree Mosse, with a kind of long wool, hanging down from the boughs, especially of the Pitch tree, and somtimes from others. The 2^d. which is very plentiful and affords food for the raindeers in the winter is ground Mosse, of a white colour, with long thin leaves growing a foot high. The 3^d. is ground mosse, but softer of a more delicate yellow green: this is pernicious to the foxes, which the inhabitants cut small and mix with their baits to catch them. The 4^{th}. is also ground mosse, short and soft, of a very fine colour, which because it is so fine they use instead of feathers to lay under Infants new born. I hear of a 5^{th}. sort with larger and longer leaves, which they call _Fathne_, good against fainting if it be bruised and drank in broth, but I doubt whether this be Mosse, I had rather believe it _Angelica_ cut small prepared and boiled under ground. The last thing which is to be mentioned is Grasse, which is of diverse kinds, the best sort is that which is found in the vallies near the mauntains called _Fells_, being short, soft, and juicy; that which grows in other places is thicker, rougher, and dryer. There is a 3^d sort thin and slender which the inhabitants use for stuffing of their shoes, and gloves, to defend their feet and hands from the weather. And these are all the trees, shrubs, and herbs of _Lapland_.

CHAP. XXXII.

_Of their Mettals._

That mettals grow in _Lapland_ and the outermost parts of _Scandinavia_, is only a conjecture of the Antients, and there is no certainty of it, therefore none of them make any mention of them. _Olaus M._ flatly denies that to his age there were any Iron, Copper, or Silver mines found, therefore they were forced to fasten their boats with osiers, without any nails because they had no Iron, but in the 35. year of this age, in _Queen Christina’s_ reign, a silver mine was discovered by the Inhabitants of _Pitha_ near _Nasafialo_ not far from the mountains which divide Swedeland from Norway, this was the first mine known in _Lapland_, found by _Loens Person_ an inhabitant of _Pitha_.

In the year 1645. _The most Illustrious Ericus Flemming L. Baron of Lais, now Senator of the Kingdome, and President of the company of Mines_, first caused it to be opened, and a melting-house built with convenient necessaries. There is also a vein of Lead richer then the Silver and easier work’t. _Rheen_ saith that the mountain is opened, not with Pickaxes or any Iron instruments: but they bore a hole, which must be fill’d with Gunpowder; when the mouth is well stopt they apply fire thro another little hole, which touching the powder breaks the hardest stones in pieces. But the use of this mine lasted no long time, for in the war between the Swedes and Danes in _Carolus Gustavus_ his reign about the year 1658. it was spoiled by one _Van Anen_ the Danish Kings Governour, from which time no man would go to the expence of cleansing and repairing the mine, because it would require a vast charge, before they could get any profit by it, which was too much for men of mean estates to undertake.

The 2^d Silver mine is in _Luhla-Lapmark_ named _Kiedlkievasi_ found by _Jonan Petri_ living in _Torpenjaur_ about the 60. year of this age. It is in the middle of the Village _Torpenjaur_, on an high mountain 2. miles from the top, 6. miles from _Rædstad_ a village of _Norway_, between _Rædstad_ and _Keidlkievasi_; there is a famous high hill called _Daorfiæl_ in the road that leads from the mine to _Norway_: the foul weather in the winter stops all passage over this mountain. The mine is rich enough and very broad, continuing the same all over, lodged in a hard Marcasite. It has this inconvenience that there are no woods near it, but they are forced to fetch their fuel a mile and a half off: they use powder instead of digging it, (as before) the melting-house stands 5. miles off in a pleasant place near the concourse of several Rivers, especially _Darijock_ and _Quickjock_, which last gives the house its name. Here is a very spacious wood and great plenty of shrubs, especially currans, and all sorts of herbs. The river affords abundance of the best sort of fish as Salmon, Trout, Perch, &c. distant 27. miles from _Taorne_ discovered in 1655. by an inhabitant who was showing the ore to _Ericus Ericsonius_ who first discovered it. It is very rich and not drossy, only necessary’s are conveyed thither with some difficulty. There is another 3. miles northward called _Wittange_, found by a _Laplander_ in 1668. The vein is not so good because mixt with Iron, wherefore they do not dig it so willingly as the Other; from these mines the ore is shipt away to the melting-house at _Koenge_ to be melted and thence brought to _Torna_. There are Iron mines too, one in _Torne-Lapmark_ joyning to the Copper mine, another in the same _Lapmark_ called _Junesuando_ found in 1640. by _Laurence_ an inhabitant there, about 22. miles distant from _Torna_, whether it is carried to be beaten into bars and rods at the forge at _Koenge_. A 3^d vein of the same mettal is found in _Pelziwachin_ at _Lulha_, but of these the two first only are digged. I heard in 1671. of a Golden mine: but because there was no certainty, I will not insist upon it. I mention it because there are some that affirm that it was found in _Swedeland_ in the time of _Gustavus_ the first, but this was divulged by an uncertain Author, as appears by the event, for to this day nothing more has bin heard of it.

CHAP. XXXIII.

_Of their Stones, Jewels, and Pearls._

I come now to their stones, which are very large and many, of an ash colour but rough hard and intractable, not to be reduced by any instrument to shape for use. Besides these there are others often found on the shores which represent the shape of an animal. These the inhabitants esteem much and adore them for Gods, under the name of _Stoorjuncare_. In _Torne-Lapmark_, near the mine _Junesuando_, on the banks of _Torno_, there are found yellow plain stones of a circular figure like mony, about the bigness of a half crown, which look like dirt, but are as hard as flints. _Dn. Grape_ in his papers makes mention of them. I will set down a draught of them marked with the letter B. In the mine it self there are found stones in the perfect shape of _Octaedra_, polished and worked by nature herself, but very small not exceeding the bigness of a nut, and somtimes less, I have put down their figure with the letter C. It is not certain whether the loadstone be found in this Country, tho _Olaus Mag._ speaks of mountains under the pole which some have thought do breed the stone: his words seem to intimate loadstones as big as mountains, but ’tis certain he cannot mean _Lapland_, for that has none such, yet there are those who affirm that the loadstone is found there. As for pretious stones they have them frequently, _Buræus_ mentions jewels, and afterwards he adds _Diamond_, _Amethyst_, and _Topaz_. By diamonds he means transparent stones or Chrystal, they are found big and little sticking up and down upon the rocks and craggs: some are as big as Childrens heads, such as I saw the _Illustrious Gabriel de la Gardie_ Chancellour of this kingdom have; they have six sides ending like a pyramid, tho some of them are imperfect; the colour in some is bright and clear not inferior to Chrystal, in other dull and spoiled with flaws, some are pure, others have veins like cracks branching out every way, they serve the inhabitants for flints when they have occasion to light a candle, and yield more fire if striken with a steel than the flints themselves. I have now in a _Lapland pouch_ some Chrystal which they made use of for flints. The Jewellers polish and cut their Chrystals with such art that somtimes they are taken for true Diamonds by those that have skill. I have drawn the greater sort of Chrystal in the native bigness & shape, marked with the letter _A_. _Buræus_ mentions _Amethysts_ next, some of which I saw brought out of _Lapland_, but so pale and spotted that they were scarce comparable to those that come out of _Bohemia_ tho I hear since that there are much better found, cut rarely. The same thing is to be said of the _Topaz_, one of which I have in my study, in every thing like a Chrystal, only the colour inclines to a yellow. I am told that none of the rest doe shine so much as those that come from other places, which is the fault of almost all the jewels of this Nation, not being so apt to bare lively brisk colours as the eastern jewels doe. To this head I reduce all Pearls and Margarites, tho they be not stones. Some rivers in _Lapland_ produce these, therefore there are certain inhabitants appointed to dive and search for them, such as was _John Peterson_, mentioned by _S. Rheen_, who first found the Silver mine at _Nasafiæl_, he is called _een diamontzbrycare sampi partefoekiare_ _i. e._ one that finds and cuts pearls. Which (tho out of this Country) are not contemptible, it cannot be denied but that most of them want that liveliness which the oriental Pearls have, tho some are found as good, and in bigness and shape exceeding them. There are found some not come to perfection, half round and half flat, the round part being bright the other yellow and dull. I saw one a few years agoe brought out of _Bothnia_, so exactly round with such fresh colours, that a certain woman offered an 120. crowns for it, a Jeweller assured me that if he had another as good, he would not sell both for 500. They are bred not of such shells as are in the east broad, plane, and almost circular like Oister, but longer and hollower like Muscle shels, and not in the Sea but in Rivers, as may be gathered from _Olaus Magnus_. Those that are not come to perfection stick within the shells, but those that are perfect, are loose and drop out when the shell is opened.

CHAP. XXXIV.

_Of their Rivers._

Lapland if any Country is well watered with springs and rivers: the most noted are those from whence the particular marches and regions have their names, as _Umeao_, _Pitheao_, _Luhleao_, _Torneao_, and _Kimeao_, these spring from the _Norway_ mountains, and are encreased by several less rivers, unburdening themselves at last into the _Bothnick_ Sea. _Vindela_ fills _Umeao_ and _Skiellefle_ _Pitheao_, _Luhleao_ swallows a less river of the same name, and _Kimeao_ is encreased by _Avilaiocki_, which it self is no small river, for there are numberless rivulets which run into it. So _Luhleao_ which has a double stream, the lesser receives _Pyrrijaus Kardijoch_, and it is the same case with the greater called _Stoor-Luhleao_, and _Tornæo_ which is filled with the river _Kæungemæ Tængeleao_ and others. And so it is with all the great rivers, which upon that account are so impetuous and big, that they yield to few in the world: and because they run through hilly and uneven Countrys, and are stopt by several dams & weares, they force their way over precipices, with a great noise, and in those places are not navigable. Such is the sluce at _Lughlens_, called _Muskaumokke_, and another named _Sao_, likewise _Niometsaski_ i. e. an Hares leap, so called because the river _Lughla_ runs between two mountains so near that an Hare may leap over.

The like _Cataracts_ are found at _Torna_, the most remarkable is called _terrafors_ near the _Norway_ mountains. Next _Cængerbrooks-fors_ then _Lappia-fors_, then three more meeting in an head called by one name _Pælloforser_, next _Kettille-fors_ and lastly _Kukula-fors_ near _Torna_. Although these _Cataracts_ are a great hindrance to sailers, yet they are advantagious to the mettal-melters, and afford an incredible plenty of Fish. Besides these rivers there are abundance of pooles, so numerous that but few can be named, one is _Lulafræsk_ by _Lughla_, by which _Lughleao_ the greater runs. Next _Lugga_ and _Sabbaig_ all abounding with Salmons. By the lesser _Lughleao_ are _Saggatt_, _Ritfack_, _Pirrijaur_, _Skalka_, _Sittijock_, _waykijaur_, and _Karra-green_ which exceeds them all, each affording plenty of Fish. _Pitha_ has these remarkable ones near it, _Hornafvandijaur_, _Arfussierf_, _Pieskejaur_, but especially _Stoorafuan_ in which there are as many Ilands as daies in the year; but above all _Enarefræsk_ near _Kimus_. _Wexionius_ saith the Hills and Ilands in it are innumerable, and without an hyperbole, for _Tornæus_ affirmes that never any inhabitant lived long enough to survey them all.

There be some Marshes, little but full of Fish, in that language called _Suino_ i. e. holy, and they account it a sin to foul them. These marches have two Channels one above the Other: somtimes it happens that the fish leave the upper and retreat into the lower, upon which account the superstitious natives bring sacrifice to appease the _Dæmon_ of that marsh whom they suppose to be angry.

CHAP. XXXV.

_Of their Mountains._

Their land which I treat of last, is not in the same condition all over, for that which is near _Bothnia_ is wholsomer and more fertile for all sort of pot-herbs, as those can witness who have made gardens in both soils. They found that some places would bear coleworts, raperoots, parsnips, radishes and the like. In other places by reason of the abundance of rocks and rivers, the ground is too moist and stony, and sandy in many places, which being scattered by the wind covers the ground like snow, such are those places near the mountains of _Norway_. These sands make a very dangerous passage for travellors, especially when they are covered with snow, because then they cannot tell what they are to avoid, somtimes falling in and being overwhelmed. Towards _Norway_, are very high mountains which the _Swedes_ call _Fiæl_ the _Laplanders_ _Tudderi_. _Cluverius_ calleth the top of the mountains _Sevo_ which he took from _Pliny_ l. 4. c. 13. By _Adamus_ they are called _Riphæi_, but he was to careless in looking over _Pliny_, _Solinus_, and _Orosius_. But whatever the name is, what _Pliny_ saith is true of the mountain, that it is no less than the _Riphæan;_ the top is perpetually covered with snow. Moreover the ascent and rise of this mount is thus described by _Pet. Nevren_: the mountain which separates _Norway_ from _Lappia_ begins to rise about _Zemptland_; thence with continued ascent towards the north it reaches a hundred miles, till it comes to _Titusfiord_, which is a bay of the frozen sea. By this mountain the provinces of _Swedeland_ are divided from _Norway_, as by a wall designed by nature herself. But altho these mountains are one continued tract, yet they swell higher in some places than others, called by these distinct names, which _Samuel Rheen_ mentions. _Waesawaari, Skipoive, Nasawari, Ceruioiue, Kioldawaari, Niottuswagg, Keidtkiwaari, Zeknawaari, Fierrowaari, Cardawaari, Steikawaari, Skalopacht, Darrawaari, Woggousaari, Niynnas, Kaskaoiue, Wallawaari, Skieldawaari, Harrawaari, Portawaari, Kafla, Seggock Ultivis._ In like manner there are many other of their names in the other parts of this Country, but because it is hard to meet with them all, and not so much to our purpose, wee’l end now.

THE

CONTENTS.

CHAP. I.

_Of the Name of_ Lapland. Pag. 1.
_Of the Situation of_ Lapland. p. 3.
_Of the Temperature of the Air, and soil of_ Lapland. p. 7.
_Of the Division of_ Lapland. p. 9.
_Of the_ Laplanders _in reference to the inclinations, temper
and habit, of their minds and bodies_. p. 12.
_Of the Original of the_ Laplanders. p. 15.
_Of the Religion of the_ Laplanders. p. 21.
_Of the second, or Christian Religion of the_ Laplanders. p. 24.
_Of some remains of Paganism in_ Lapland _at this time_. p. 34.
_Of the heathenish Gods of the_ Laplanders, _and their manner
of worship at this day_. p. 37.
_Of the magicall Ceremonies of the_ Laplanders. p. 45.
_Of the Government of the_ Laplanders. p. 60.
_Of the Judicatures and Tributes of the_ Laplanders. p. 65.
_Of the_ Laplanders _Fairs, and Customs in Trading_. p. 67.
_Of the Language of the_ Laplanders. p. 72.
_Of the Houses of the_ Laplanders. p. 80.
_Of the Garments of the_ Laplanders. p. 87.
_Of the Diet of the_ Laplanders. p. 91.
_Of the Hunting of the_ Laplanders. p. 94.
_Of the_ Laplanders _Weapons, and other instruments of
Hunting_. p. 98.
_Of the_ Laplanders _Handy-craft-trades_. p. 100.
_Of the Womens Emploiments_. p. 103.
_Of the Emploiments common to both Sexes_. p. 105.
_Of their Divertisements_. p. 107.
_Of their Contracts and Marriages_. p. 110.
_Of their Child-bearing, and the Education of
their Children_. p. 120.
_Of their Diseases, Death and Burial_. p. 124.
_Of their Cattel_. p. 129.
_Of the wild Beasts of the_ Laplanders. p. 133.
_Of their Birds and Fish_. p. 137.
_Of the_ Laplanders _Trees and Plants_. p. 141.
_Of their Mettals_. p. 143.
_Of their Stones, Jewels, and Pearls_. p. 144.
_Of their Rivers_. p. 146.
_Of their Mountains_. p. 147.

FINIS.

Transcriber's Note

Images have been moved to paragraph breaks, and may no longer match the locations mentioned in the text.

In the printed text, closing quotation marks were not used; these have been added and are included in the list of changes below.

The following changes have been made to the printed text:

p. iv "R A. BATHURST" changed to "R. A. BATHURST"

p. 4 footnote marker added to "language is from leaping,[4]"

p. 5 removed duplicated line "lities that usually commend Lands for Agriculture. Then as to his urging its"

p. 11 "are equivavalent" changed to "are equivalent"

p. 11 "L_ochteby_" changed to "_Lochteby_"

p. 19 "said of their second" changed to "have said of their second"

p. 26 "_Arwitfierfs_" changed to "_Arwitsierfs_"

p. 43 "1 daies" changed to "14 daies"

p. 44 "same wirh those" changed to "same with those"

p. 48 was numbered as page 50

p. 48 "Storjnnkare" changed to "Storjunkare"

p. 53 "saies that the" changed to "saies that “the"

p. 53 "Latine T." changed to "Latine T.”"

p. 53 "Lambskin, and and" changed to "Lambskin, and"

p. 57 "recover out" changed to "might recover out"

p. 60 "particular art?" changed to "particular art;"

p. 61 "shonld refuse" changed to "should refuse"

p. 63 "_Tavastia_,and" changed to "_Tavastia_, and"

p. 69 "case provided." changed to "case provided.”"

p. 69 "our Crown." changed to "our Crown.”"

p. 71 "convenient manner." changed to "convenient manner.”"

p. 72 "year 1641." changed to "year 1641.”"

p. 73 "_eorrasa_, _eet Lappatspaock_" changed to "_corrasa_, _eet Lappatspraock_"

p. 80 "used. From" changed to "used.” From"

p. 84 "fire or age." changed to "fire or age.”"

p. 88 "But he doth doth" changed to "But he doth"

p. 100 "must rugged" changed to "most rugged"

p. 111 "(that is the Wine" changed to "(that is) the Wine"

p. 124 "were burt by" changed to "were hurt by"

p. 125 "good fora cough" changed to "good for a cough"

p. 125 "themare still" changed to "them are still"

p. 126 "whole day in qnaffing" changed to "whole day in quaffing"

p. 126 "Aldophus" changed to "Adolphus"

p. 126 "Twe reason" changed to "The reason"

p. 127 "kindred. They" changed to "kindred.” They"

p. 135 "resembleacross" changed to "resemble a cross"

p. 141 "acccording to" changed to "according to"

p. 143 "_Scandivavia_" changed to "_Scandinavia_"

p. 143 "nhabitant" changed to "inhabitant"

p. 144 "CHAP XXXIII." changed to "CHAP. XXXIII."

p. 144 "Gaidie" changed to "Gardie"

p. 145 "for 500," changed to "for 500."

Errors, inconsistencies and archaic language have otherwise been kept as printed.