LAPLAND. 



THOUGH Lapland has no peculiar government as a distinct na- 

 tion, but is divided among the three great northern powers, Sweden, 

 Denmark, and Russia, the peculiar character and manners of its inha- 

 bitants entitle it to be treated of in a distinct section ; and as the 

 largest and most cultivated part of it belongs to Sweden, it appears 

 most proper to place the account of it after that of, the country on 

 which it is principally dependent. 



Name. ...The name of Lappes was given to the Laplanders by the 

 Swedes, and is of uncertain derivation. Some say that it signifies 

 exiles or fugitives, because they are of the race of the Fins driven out 

 of their own country ; others, that it signifies sorcerers. The Laplan- 

 ders call themselves Same, and their country Same-ednam ; whence it 

 has been conjectured that they are of the race of the Samoieds. 



Extent axd divisions... .Lapland, taking together the whole of 

 Swedish, Danish, and Russian Lapland, extends from 64 to 71 de- 

 grees north latitude, and from 15 to 40 degrees west longitude, be- 

 ing in length about 600 miles, and in breadth 500 : it may contain 

 about 120,000 square miles. The most southern part belongs to Swe- 

 den ; the northern part appertains to Denmark, and is called Fin- 

 mark. The distinction between the territory of the two countries, 

 as agreed on by treaty in 1750, is, according to Mr. Acerbi, a late in- 

 telligent traveller into Lapland, that all that tract of country of which 

 the rivers run into the Frozen Ocean shall belong to Denmark ; and 

 all that of which the rivers fall into the Gulf of Bothnia,- shall be 

 considei'ed as Swedish Lapland. The eastern extremity of Lap- 

 land belongs to Russia, and makes a part of the government of Arch- 

 angel. 



The subdivisions of Swedish Lapland have already been given inr 

 the table of the Swedish provinces. 



Mountains, lakes, rivers.. ..Lapland contains many mountains, 

 but none with which we are sufficiently acquainted to notice them 

 particularly. The principal rivers are the Tornea, the Tana, and the 

 Alten. The Tornea springs from the lake of the same name, and, 

 after a course of 300 miles, falls into the Gulf of Bothnia. The Ta- 

 na and Alten fall into the Frozen Ocean. The Paes divides Russian 

 Lapland from the part subject to Denmark. The lakes in Lapland 

 are numerous ; those of Hernasba-Staer, or the Great Lake, Tornea, 

 Lulea, and Enara in Russian Lapland, are the chief. 



Minerals, metals.. ..Lapland abounds in metals and minerals of 

 every kind. Native gold has been found at Svappawara ; copper, 

 iron, lead, zinc, and plumbago, or black-lead, are found in various 

 parts ; and in the south of Swedish Lapland there are mines worked 

 by the Swedes- Limestone, marble, gypsum, rock-crystal, jasper, 

 amethysts, and garnets, are also among the mineral productions of 

 this country. Pearls of considerable value are said to be found in 

 the rivers. 



Climate, -soil, vegetable productions.., .The winter in Lap- 



