CONCERNING LAPLAND, 
3 01 
SECTION XXIV. 
Of the Sacrifices offered by the Laplanders to their Deities. 
7ITH refpeft to the deities, of which the attributes and 
Y T names are contained in the preceding fedtion, as well as 
the rites and ceremonies obferved in their worfhip, the miffionary 
Leems remarks, that he found the Laplanders to vary in different 
parts, and on that account has contented himfelf with fetting 
down what he was able to afcertain from his own perfonal obfer- 
A 
vation, or could derive from the beft information. Of his com¬ 
munications upon thefe fubjedts, we hare endeavoured to give our 
readers a fhort abftradt The whole may ferve to eftablifh a truth, 
that man unenlightened by the truths of a divine revelation, is led 
to pay his adoration to fenfible objedts, either as they promote his 
happinefs or interrupt his quiet. Thus the fun, thunder, moun¬ 
tains, lakes, the changes of the feafons, &c. become deities which 
he ttrives to propitiate by fuch ceremonies as he fuppofes in the 
fimplicity of his mind are moft likely to anfwer that purpofe ; 
which ceremonies, as he is wholly intent upon the end he pro- 
pofes to himfelf to attain by means of them, appear to him very 
ferious and important. 
Rein-deer, ffieep, and now and then a feal, were the animals 
chiefly 
