CONCERNING LAPLAND. 
M3 v 
SECTION II. 
Of the Origin of the Laplanders, 
ROM whence the Laplanders derive their origin they them- 
felves are wholly ignorant. The moil: general opinion is, 
that they are defcended from the ancient Finni, or Finns, and 
this fuppofition appears to our miiTionary, as it muft to all men of 
fenfe, more probable than the notion of thofe who deduce their 
defcent from the ancient Hebrews. The coincidences, on the 
flrength of which the advocates for the Hebrew origin fupport 
their opinion, the miffionary thinks it worth while to detail atfome 
length. I ffiall extract the principal of them, not from any idea 
that they are worthy of ferious attention, but merely for the pur- 
pofe of adding a few to the many examples which are already be¬ 
fore the world of the fancies and conceits of etymologies.—In 
“ the firft place, the Laplanders generally have black hair, fo have 
“ the Jews ; the Jews are of fmall ftature, fo are the Laplanders : 
“ Saturday was confecrated to devotion among the Jews; fo it 
“ was alfo, before the introduction of Chriftianity, among the Lap- 
“ landers: the manner and modulation of the voice in linging the 
“ pfalms in Lapland is very like that of the Jews in their lyna- 
<f gogues: the Jews, when they offered up facrifices to God, were 
8 
wont 
