X 20/6 ) 
Golden Applis, reftoring the Gods themfelves to life, that 
is, which fet forth the dScs of their Anceftors, and incite- 
ments to Virtue, and diffwafives from Vice, are Interpreted 
by him of Letters, which were cut on Stones or Wood, or 
writ on Parchment. And thefe Stones, Tables, Parch- 
ments and LapUnd Tympana^ from their oblong figure, 
have got the Name of Pine Apples, Apples and Eggs ; 
And thofe Letters that were writ on Parchment or Magical 
Tympana^ were covered with a Gold colour, from the Bark of 
an Alder : Therefore that Alder was much efteem'd by 
their Anceftors, and is now by the Laplanders 3 fincefrom 
its Inward Bark, ground with the Teeth, they get a Gold 
colour, wherewith they Paint all kinds of Letters and 
figures on their Tympana. Now, as for what fome are faid 
to defcend into Hell carried on Alder Sticks, it is from 
thence, that in their Divinations they ufe thofe kinds of 
Sticks, in the Barks of which they had cut Letters and 
Circles, compaffing about the Stick, like the various Spires 
of Serpents. As for the God they call upon in thefe Di- 
vinations, he fays it's Saturn^ and his Worftiippers ufing'the 
Drum are call'd Satur nines. Therefore he that by the help of 
the Drum would feek counfel of the Gods, takes in one hand 
aGolden Apple^ in the other a Hammer made likeaCrofs of 
Alder ^ or Horn^ he ought alfo to have a Serpent, made of 
Copper, as not much differing from Gold in colour, 
which upon the beat of the Hammer on the head of the 
Drum, leaps in and out, till it fettles on fome Letter or 
Figure, (hewing that to be it, from whence the Anfwer is 
given. Moreover, the Saturmne, upon beating the Drum 
a while, fell iiito a Trance, as tho he were dead ^ and the 
Laplanders then, by miftake, thought the Soul went ouC 
of the Body, and having learnt many things, retujji'd 
again 5 whereas their Anceftors, with 'Plutarch^ thought 
the Soul did not go out of the Body, but fome time yield- 
ed,, and gave a loofe to the Genius^ which having roll'd 
about 
