THROUGH SWEDEN. 
J 95 
indulged themfelves in conjectures, for which there is always room 
in enquiries concerning the origin of places, and the derivation of 
their names. 
Aland has been fuppofed anciently to have been governed by its 
own monarchs; but how r ever that may be, it is certainly known 
that fmee the fourteenth century it has made part of the bifliop- 
rick and government of Abo, with the exception that in the year 
1 743 Aland and the other iflands fubmitted to Ruffia, and fwore 
allegiance to the Czarina, but were foon after reftored to Sweden 
by the treaty of Abo. Thefe iflands in former times frequently 
fuffered from the invafions of the Ruffians, and the inhabitants 
had been forced to fly from their houfes and fertile plains. But in 
1718 a congrefs was held here for the reftoration of peace, by 
which the enjoyment of tranquillity was fecured to them. 
Aland and the feveral ifles contain eight pariffies, each of which 
has a church. Befides thefe places of worfhip, there are {even 
chapels. The names of the pariflies are Sund, Saltvick, Finftrom, 
Hammarfand, Jomala, Lemland, Foglo, and Kumblinge. 
The Laplanders and Fins were undoubtedly the earlieft inha¬ 
bitants of thefe iflands, and their refidence here is plainly to be 
traced in the names of places which ftill remain, and were in all 
likelihood given by them; fuch as Lappo, Lapbole, Lapwafs, 
Finby, Finftrom, Finno, Finko, and Finholm. In the parifh of 
Sund is a natural grotto formed in the fide of a mountain, about 
fix yards in length and three in breadth, and from four to five yards 
in height. During the invafion of the Ruffians in 17 14 it ferved 
C c 2 as 
