FINLAND. 



795 



Lapland Snow-shoes. 



descend the steep mountains so swiftly, that 

 the air whistles in their ears, and their hair 

 becomes erect with the downward motion. 



18. Character., J]'Ianners, and Customs. 

 In Lapland, society exists in its primitive 

 elements ; men hve in a state differing from 

 that of highly civilized countries ; there are 

 no crimes, and there is a perfect security ol 

 property. The settlements are not near to 

 each other ; and whoever erects a hut with- 

 out the limits of another, becomes possessed 

 of the land for 6 miles around. There is 

 no temptation to commit the crimes of vio- 

 lence or fraud, that are so common in other 

 countries, and a lock as a security to proper- 

 ty is unknown in Lapland. The Laplanders 

 are gentle and hospitable, and like the Esqui- 

 maux, they have the greatest aversion to war. A Laplander has never been known as a soldier. 

 The people resist all inducements to leave their country. They are not without sensitive feel- 

 ings, and are known to weep from sympathy and compassion. 



19. Jlmusemcnls. The Laplanders are expert wrestlers, and they have several athletic 

 sports. They throw javelins at a mark, leap over sticks held by two persons, &c. They have 

 the game of fox and geese, which is in great request. 



20. Religion. The Laplanders have renounced their pagan creed, though some of its rites 

 and superstitions remain. They attend to the instructions of the missionaries with great atten- 

 tion and seriousness. They never use profane language, and they observe the Sabbath strictly. 

 In 1738, the Bible was translated into their language, and there are now Lutheran hymn-books, 

 tracts, &c. Since the first translation of the Bible, a second and third have been made. 

 There are 23 churches, and 7 schools, chiefly under the care of the missionaries. 



Marriages and funerals are not conducted with much ceremony. The family and friends of a 



young man, go in a body to solicit, in court- 

 ship for him, and presents are made. Should 

 the parents of the female retract their consent, 

 the presents are restored, and even the brandy 

 that was drank, is replaced. 



The Laplanders make professions of sorce- 

 ry, and the females sometimes are distinguish- 

 ed as witches. Their mode of divination is 

 with the Runic drum, and by a system of 

 omens. The pagan superstitions are, howev- 

 er, gradually becoming extinct. 



21. Divisions. Lapland is divided be- 

 tween Sweden and Russia. Swedish Lap- 

 land occupies the southwestern quarter of this 

 country, and is divided into 4 lapmarks, or 

 provinces ; Russian Lapland forms the eastern 

 part, and is included in the government of 

 Archangel ; Norwegian Lapland extends the whole length of the Severnoi, on their northern 

 side, and forms the province of Finmark. A large portion of the Laplanders are practically 

 under no government whatever 



Wedding Party. 



CHAPTER CXXIIL FINLAND. 



1. Boundaries and Extent. Finland is bounded north by Lapland, east by Russia, south 

 by the Gulf of Finland, and west by the Gulf of Bothnia. It lies between 22° and 32° east 

 longitude, and extends south to latitude 60° ; the northern limit is not very distinctly marked. 

 It contains ]3;i,000 square miles. 



100 



