CONCERNING LAPLAND. 
139 
There exifts an account of Swedilli Lapland, which in no re- 
fpedt differs from that of Leems; but the reader is particularly 
cautioned by the miffionary againft another publication by an 
anonymous author, in the German language, entitled, Nordtfche 
B.eyfe, &c. which came out about the middle of the laft century. 
This German writer makes the Laplanders a nation of magicians, 
and has filled his book with monftrous abfurdities, and told the 
moft egregious falfehoods concerning them. He afferts, that the 
Laplander calls his rein-deer to him by blowing a horn; and that 
when he fs about to fet off on a journey he whifpers the animal 
in the ear, as if he was informing him of the way he was to go. 
Now the miffionary abfolutely denies that either horn or trumpet 
is known amongft the Laplanders, who make no ufe of any mu- 
fical inftrument whatever. As to the whifpering in the animal’s 
ears, the folly of fuch a ftatement is a fufficient impeachment of 
its veracity. The fame perfon fays, he bought a favourable wind 
with money and tobacco of certain inhabitants of Norland, who 
gave him a piece of linen rag tied in three knots, which he was 
to faften to the main fail; and he adds, that upon loofening the 
firft and fecond knots he had a favourable wind, but that the third 
caufed a violent tempeft. Our miffionary totally denies the pro¬ 
bability of the affirmation, though it may be admitted that the 
Lapland magicians formerly pretended to fuch power over the 
winds ; for the fame affertion has alfo been made by other writers. 
Our readers, who are admirers of Hudibras, will recolletR, that 
Butler has an allufion to this fuperflition, which undoubtedly he 
T 2 had 
