154 REPORT — 1871. 



that the Laplander cranium should he regarded as a subtj-pical form, occupying 

 the transitionary place between the pyramidal type of the true hyperboreana on 

 the one hand, and the globidar-headed and square-faced Mongol on the other. 

 The Laplander is certainly of low stature, but he is not a pigmy, as he has been 

 represented. The stature of the Esquimaux averages 5 feet 7 inches. In En- 

 gland the average for the men is 5 feet 6 inches, and in Patagonia 6 feet 2 inches ; 

 but we have no real measurement of the Lapps. The Laplander is veiy lean in 

 flesh, and has not the fat and bulli: of the Esqiumaux. A thick head, prominent 

 forehead, hollow and blear eyes, shoi-t flat nose and wide mouth, characterize the 

 Laplander. The hair is thin, short, and shaggy ; the beard straggling, and 

 scarcely covering the chin, in which respect he assimilates with the Esquimaux. 

 The hair of both sexes is black and harsh, the chest broad, and the waist slender. 

 He is swift of foot and very strong ; so that a bow which a Norwegian can 

 scarcely half bend he will draw to the fidl, the arrow reaching to the head. 

 Rimning races, climbing inaccessible rocks and high trees is the usual exercise. 

 Though nimble and strong, he never walks quite upright, but always stooping, a 

 habit obtained by frequently sitting in his hut on the ground. The Laplander was 

 originally Pagan, full of superstition, and believing in magic and omens, and 

 worshipping their chief deity .f umala in a kind of temple in thick remote woods 

 not built with walls and roof, but only a piece of ground fenced as were the old 

 Roman temples, until the planting of Christianity in the time of Ladulaus Magnus 

 in the year 1277 — a Christianity diflering, however, from Paganism only in name, 

 imtil the founding of a school by Gustavus Adolphus in 1631, to which the Lap- 

 landers owe their progress in the knowledge and love of the Christian religion, 

 wliich appears from the many useful and eminent persons bred there. The author 

 described at length their maniage ceremonies. They may be called a moral race. 

 Polygamy and divorce are uulmown. It is unlawful to marry too near in blood. 

 The author stated that then- families are small, rarely exceeding three. The 

 author then described their mode of bringing up young children from their earliest 

 years. Wexionius is of opinion that the Swedes gave the " Lapp " their name 

 from their wearing skins, but lapper and skin-lapper do not properly signify skins. 

 Nieuren derives their name from their coming into Swedelaud every year with 

 rags lapt about them, which is the signification of Lapp in Greek. 



According to some authors, the inhabitants do not denominate the country, but 

 the countiy the inhabitants, as in the name Norwegian and others, strengthened 

 by Olaus Magnus, who calls them Lappomanni, Westmanui, and Sudermauni, iu 

 which words nianni signifying men, they were called Lappomanni, i.e. Men of Lappia. 

 Others say that the name of the country is derived from Lappu, which in the 

 Finnonick language is Fm'thermost, because it lies in the farthest part of Scandi- 

 navia. On this point Lehi-berg agrees. Ibre derives it from Lop or Lapp, an 

 old Swedish word for wizard or enchanter. 



The domestication of the Reindeer and the use of a drum, which is elaborately 

 engraved with birds, animals, and celestial bodies, and is practised incessantly for 

 the piu'pose of foretelling events, characterize this people from most of the circum- 

 polar family. 



0)1 MegalitJiic Circles. Btj Lieut.-Col. Forbes Leslie. 



This paper is intended in refutation of the theory that all megalithic cii-cles 

 were primarily and exclusively sepulchral ; and, on the contrary, to show that the 

 great circular monuments were erected or occupied for religious ceremonies by 

 successive generations of the early races of Britain. Although it is not improbable 

 that these ceremonies were connected with the funeral rites of the dead, whose 

 barrows or cairns, sometimes surrounded by " standing stones," were raised around 

 or within sight of the fane by which they were attracted. 



The description of the great methalithie circles of England and Aberdeenshire, 

 were illustrated by diagrams to show the peculiarities of construction which dis- 

 tinguish monuments designed for religious ceremonies from " standing stones " 

 which defined or dignified a place of sepulture. 



In proof that the same sites were occupied, and the same megalithic masses 



