GENERAL REMARKS 
292 
obferved in this method of cure, namely, that the buck’s finews; 
only are to be applied to the legs of the female Laplander, and 
thofe of the doe to the male. 
Their funerals are conducted with little ceremony. The bodyy 
Rightly wrapped up in a coarfe cloth, is borne to the grave, at¬ 
tended by a fmall convoy of the family and friends of the de- 
ceafed ; for vvbofe entertainment a flight repaid is prepared, which 
affords nothing beyond the common fare, except a fmall portion 
of metheglin,. which is handed about to the company. It was an 
ancient cuftom with the Laplanders to bury thofe who excelled 
in fliooting with the bow, or with fire-arms, in the ground confe- 
crated to the rites performed in honour of their deities. The fe- 
pulchre is no other than an old fledge, which is turned bottom 
upwards over the fpot where the body lies buried. It was likewife 
ufual formerly to raife a heap of ftones over the dead body; but 
that practice is now laid afide, and the fledge is at prefent the 
only monument. Another circumftance prevailed amongfl the 
Laplanders before their entire converfion to Chrillianity, namely* 
that they placed an axe with a tinder-box by the fide of the corpfe* 
if that of a man ; and if a woman’s, her fciflars and needle ; fup- 
pofing thefe implements might be of ufe to them in the other 
world. They likewife put up a quantity of provifions with the 
dead body, and immediately after the burial of one of the family, 
they removed their habitation to another fpot. For the firfl: three 
years after the deceafe of a friend or relation, they were accuf- 
tomed, from time to time, to dig holes by the fide of the grave, 
. A 5 therein 
