CONCERNING LAPLAND. 
! 53 
The Laplanders are for the moft part fhort in filature, but they 
poflefs a tolerable fhare of bodily {Length. They are certainly a 
very hardy race of people, and are able to undergo great labour, 
and actually fupport themfelves under the extraordinary feverity of 
their climate with a wonderful degree of patience and fortitude. 
In proof of this our miffionary mentions the inflance of a woman 
who croffed mountains of ice and fnow in the month of De¬ 
cember, five days after her delivery of a child, in order to attend 
the prayers of what is commonly called churching. The moun¬ 
tain Laplanders, and thofe of the fea-coafl, or the maritime Lap¬ 
landers, are equally objects of admiration in this refped:, that they 
are able to breathe amidft the fuffocating fmoke of their tents and 
huts, when the only aperture by which the fmoke can pafs is 
clofed, in order to keep out the weather; and as it has been ob- 
ferved that the Laplanders are by nature and from habit able to 
endure great hardffiips, and fuftain exceffive labour with patience, 
fo it has been long fince remarked, that the molt fimple me¬ 
dicaments, which elfewherc are little efieemed, have fufficient 
efficacy to reftore them to health, unlefs their diforders are of a 
very violent nature. This truth is eftablifhed by long experience, 
and feems as if Providence, in compenfation for their inability to 
procure extraordinary affiftance, permitted the fame effects to be 
produced by the molt common means. They fet a high value on 
fpices, and no prefent is more acceptable to a Laplander than that 
which either confffis of tobacco, pepper, ginger, and the like, let 
the quantity be ever fo fmall. 
VOL. II. 
X 
They 
