THROUGH FINLAND. 
2 93 
!,((' 
CHAPTER XVL 
Some of the Manners and Ciifloms of the Inhabitants of Finland de¬ 
ferred—Their Modes of Courtfhip—Ceremonies attending Mar¬ 
riage—The ufe of Vapour-Baths among the People at large , and ef 
l 
pecially among the Peafantry—Some Particulars of this Manner of 
. i 
bathing—The extraordinary Tranftion from Heat to Cold which 
the Finlanders can endure . 
"^TOTHING could be more curious than to deferibe the odd 
**“ ^ and fantaftic cuftoms of the northern nations, and the grofs 
indelicacies pradlifed among them on certain occafions: but I 
Ihall confine my remarks to their marriages and their baths. The 
peafants of the province of Savolaxa, in Finland, have a very lin¬ 
gular mode of making love. When a young man feels an attach¬ 
ment for a young woman, he commiflions fome aged dame to 
acquaint the object of his love with his paffion, and at the fame 
time he fends her fome prefents. The old woman chufes as the 
proper moment for executing her commiffion, that, when the girl 
is preparing to go to reft. While Ihe is putting off her cloaths, 
the woman takes an opportunity of getting into her prefence, and 
bellowing many praifes upon the lover. When the girl has heard 
all lhe has to fay, the dame flips fome prefent, perhaps a handker¬ 
chief,, 
