Part 19

But besides these, there are others, such as are the _Sables_ which _Olaus Magnus_ calls _Zabelli_, their skins _Johnston_ in his History of Animals commends. _Olaus_ saith that their skins were made use of by the _Lapland_ Women, especially by the Brides to adorn themselves with them; and that there is but small plenty of them in these parts. Some make this beast like a weezel, others especially _Scaliger_ like the Martin, and indeed he seems to be in the right both to the bulk and shape of it. Their color the nearer it comes to black is the more esteemed. There are found several all white, such as we have often seen the _Muscovian_ Embassadors bring over to the King for a most singular present. By which _Adamus Bremensis_ in his _Scandinavia_ seems to have understood white Martins. There are also Ermins which are found only among the _Laplanders_. _Jovius_ first wrote of them that they were good exchange for any sort of Merchandize. These Ermins are nothing but white weezels having the end of their tails black, _Johnston_ takes notice thereof out of _Albertus Magnus_, he calleth the beast _Erminius_, which is the same thing with _Armelinus_ and _Hermelinus_, differing neither in bigness nor nature from the weezel, the color argues nothing, for he has that only in Winter, but in Summer is of a bright yellow. It is as greedy of Mice as the Weezels are, whence the _Sweeds_ call it _Lekat_. I am unwilling to call it with _Scaliger_ a _Swedland_ Mouce. Among these I had rather reckon a little sort of beast which they call _Lemmus_, which _Olaus Magnus_ saith the Ermins feed on, _Samuel Rheen_ speaks of a sort of Mice found in Lapland which they call Mountain Mice or _Lemblar_, which _Wormius_ describes with short tails and staring hair, and not unlike a Mouce. I will speak little of their color, which _Olaus_ saies is various, _Samuel Rheen_ affirms it red, who observes too that they come of a sudden, and cover the ground with their multitude. _Olaus_ observes that this is alwaies in stormy weather, and thinks that it rains these creatures, but is all together in a doubt, whether they are brought thither by the Winds, or bred in the clouds. _Wormius_ thinks plainly that they are bred in the clouds: but the learned _Isaac Vossius_ in his notes to _Pomponius Mela_ corrects him, and saies the reason why these animals are supposed to fall from the Clouds is because they use not to appear, but immediatly after rain they creep out of their holes, either for that they are fill’d with water, or because this creature thrives much in rain, which opinion seems most probable to me. These creatures are very bold, never making their escape when Passengers come by, but keep on their way, and make a noise like the barking of a dog: they fear neither club nor sword, but if any one strike at them, they turn again and bite. It is observable in them that they never go near or do any mischeif in any hut, sometimes they set upon one another, being divided as it were into two armies, this the _Laplanders_ take to be an omen of future war in _Swedland_, and gather whence the enemy will come, by observing whence those animals first moved that provoked the rest. These creatures have their enemies too, first the Ermines as I mentioned before, then the Foxes, which bring a great number of these into their holes: hence the _Laplanders_ have no small disadvantage, for the Foxes using this sort of food most, regard not the baits which they lay to catch them. Thirdly the Rain-deers devour them, and lastly the dogs which eat only the fore part of them. These creatures never live, if they chance to eat any herb grown after they had tasted it before: sometimes they perish otherwise, as being choaked in the Hedges or dropping into Water. The last sort of beasts are hares, which are esteemed for their white skin, especially in the winter, at which time they are as white as the Foxes; they change their color every year, alwaies turning white towards this season; for which tho many reasons may be given, I think this is most considerable, that Nature and Providence designed it, least when the ground was quite cover’d with Snow, their color might easily discover them, and they being equally oppressed by man and beast should be quite destroy’d. For which reason too, probably some birds at that time are White. _Olaus Magnus_ testifies the same of hares, that immediatly after Autumn they begin to grow white, and at that time are frequently taken half white and half not, but in the midst of the Winter they are all white as before.

CHAP. XXX.

_Of their Birds and Fish._

I come now to the Birds, of which here is great store. _Samuel Rheen_ mentions these, Swans, Geese, Ducks, Lapwings, Snipes, all sorts of water Birds, and wild fowl, as Heathcocks, Stock-doves, Partridges, Woodcocks; he makes a distinction between water fowle and those that are bred in Woods, and proves that they abound with each sort, because the country has so many pools, ponds, and woods. Of these birds, some are in other countries, some only in these Northern parts. Swans, Geese and Ducks, are known every where: he means wild ducks, for they have no tame ones. _Olaus Petri_ takes notice of the same thing. It is remarkable in these wild foul, that they come from the South into the North, where they build their nests, hatch and breed up their young ones, which is not frequent elsewhere. I believe it is because they do not find such security nor plenty of food in other places. The Snipes I suppose are scarce found any where else, their back and head are black, and most part of their wings, white on their breast and belly, red bills, very long, and set with teeth, short feet and red with skin between their claws, as all water fowle have. As you may see in the next page.

To this we may add that sort of Bird called _Loom_, which _Samuel Rheen_ omitted, unless he comprehended them under the water-fowle in general, for there is such a number of them, and so various, that the particulars would take up too much time: _Olaus Wormius_ has a draught of this bird, it is no sort of duck, as appears by its bill, which is not broad but sharp. This bird peculiarly goes not upon land, but alwaies either flies or swims, it hath feet very short for the proportion of its body, and standing so much back, that tho they are very convenient for swimming, yet it cannot so poise its body on land as to be able to go: hence it is called _Loome_, which signifies lame or unable to go. Of the wild fowl that which _Samuel Rheen_ calls _Kiæder_ and we render _Wogallon_, intimating the biggest sort, is named _Cedron_ near _Trent_, if _Gesner_ may be credited, who describes the rest very probably: but as to the color of the Hen, which he affirms does differ nothing from the Cock, he is mistaken; for the color is quite yellow with black specks. The same may be observed of the Stock-doves which he calls the lesser _Urogalli_, for the hen differs from the cock, he being all black, and she yellow, like the hen of the Heathcock, from which she is distinguist by nothing but bigness. _Olaus Magnus_ because the Color was not exactly yellow, called it ashen, for sometimes it is composed of both these, most enclining to an ash. There are no other sort of wild cocks, then those the _Sweeds_ call _Orrar_ and the Latines _Tetraones_ or _Urogalli minores_: their combs are the same with the _Urogalli_, placed not on the top of their heads, but above each eie, which the painter not understanding drew them from his own tame cocks. Some call these birds Pheasants, but whoveer compares them, will discern two distinct species. Both sorts are found in _Lapland_, but the latter not so frequent; nor are the others equally plentiful every year, for in some there are none. I come now to the woodcocks, which I think is the right name; the _Swedes_ have a bird which they call _Jærpe_, and the _Germans_ _Haselhun_, but it is doubted whether these are the same with the woodcock, for they do not frequent marshes as the woodcocks do, but live altogether in woods and groves, whence _Rheen_ reckons them among that sort of fowle which inhabit the woods. However, there is plenty of these birds in _Lapland_, and they afford good meat for the inhabitants; but no bird abounds there more then the White Partridge, not only in the woods but on the highest Mountains, even then when they are covered with Snow. I call it _Lagopos_ which _Samuel Rheen_ sometimes _Fialriipor_ or _Snioeripor_, the _Germans_ and especially the _Helvetians_ term is _Schnæhuner_, _i. e._ Snow-hens, or _Shnævoigil_, _i. e._ Snow-birds, because they delight in Snow and to dwell on the top of the Alpes. They have a kind of hair instead of Feathers, and hears feet, whence they are called _Lagopodes_. _Samuel Rheen_ describes them thus, that in the Winter they are as white as Snow, having not one black feather, but that which the Hen has under her wing: when spring comes they turn grey like hen pheasants, and keep that color till Winter. _Olaus Magnus_ mentions a sort of snow birds, which naturally changes its white into ashen, but I can scarce believe he means the _Lagopodes_, because he speaks of their red feet, such as Storkes have, whereas the _Lagopodes_ much differ. Another thing _Samuel Rheen_ observes, that the _Lagopodes_ never sit on trees, as _Olaus_ his Snow-birds are painted, but are alwaies on the ground very active, scarce ever sitting still. Their shape is this.

The next is their Fish, of which they have incredible store; _Zeiglerus_ saies their draughts are so great, that they are forced to transport some of them into other Countries. _Jovius_ speaks too of great plenty they reap from the Seas, because he is describing those _Laplanders_ which live near _Muscovy_: whereas the rest can have plenty enough out of the rivers. The best sort they have is Salmon, for which _Olaus Magnus_ saith there is not better fishing in any part of _Europe_, then in the Bothnic towards _Lapland_; whose mountains send down vast rivers of fresh water, against which the Salmons come in such shoales, and with such vigor, that the Fishermen find them at the head of the river on the top of the mountains. _Samuel Rheen_ too prefers these fish before all the rest, and saith that they swim up all rivers that they are able, and come down again about S^t _Matthews_ tide. And that is much worse when it returns, then when it went up, which seems to be, because tis wearied and spent in strugling against the stream, and engendring; which it alwaies does in those parts of the river which are most remote from the Sea: when he comes up the river they call him _Salm_, at his return _lax_.

The 2^d sort of fish are Pikes, _Olaus Magnus_ speaking of this saith, that in _Lapland_ there are marshes of fresh water, 400 _Italian_ miles in length, and 100 in bredth, in which there is such abundance of Pike and other fish, that they do not only supply 4 Kingdomes, but are dried and transported farther into _Germany_ to be sold: these fish alwaies use fresh water, and are every where known having long heads, the lower jaw hanging out, many sharp teeth, which the Germans call _Hecht_. They are found sometimes to exceed men in length. _Olaus_ affirms, that if they have fresh water and food enough, they will attain to 8 foot in length.

The 3^d sort are those which the _Swedes_ call _Syck_, not much differing from the Carp; only they have longer mouths, and not so broad, they are commonly not so big as carps, but in _Lapland_ they are found extraordinary, sometimes weighing 10 or 12 pounds.

The 4^{th} sort is _Abbor_ which is with us a perch: this is very plentiful too, and frequently of an incredible bigness. There is to this day in a Chappel at _Luhlah_, kept one of their heads dried, which is from the top to the under jaw 2 spans thick. There are found water-weezels red and white, chiefly in the pools near the Sea. _Samuel Rheen_ speaks of 2 sorts which the _Swedes_ call _Ræding_, and _Ærlax_; whether they are any where else found I know not. _Rheen_ thus describes the first sort. _Ræding_, has its name from the red color on the lower part of its belly. The latter is very like a Salmon but not so big. Some take them for Salmons not come to their full growth, but this is an error, for these fishes are taken in pools, which are on every side parted from the Sea, and are known never to have any Salmons. I had rather refer them to the trout, or _Trutta_, because it scarce differs in shape, only the Trouts flesh is redder and softer. Besides these there are many other fish in _Lapland_, but not regarded, because they serve not for food, for which reason I pass them over: only _Olaus Petrus_ gives us this doubtful account of their names, _Salario, Cobitis, Barbatula, Rubellio, Borbocha ocutala, Prasinus, Cyprinus, Cobitis aculeata_. This Country breeds not many reptiles, no serpents: but this is meant of the upper Regions towards the _Norway_ Mountains, for in the low woody places they are found tho not many. There are but few insects; as for fleas they are quite unknown; but they receive much injury from gnats, which infest man and beast, especially the Rain-deers, which upon that account are driven away to the top of the highest Mountains. The men arm themselves against them by keeping a continual smoak in the house. If they sleep, they put a blanket over their body and head: when they go abroad they put on a garment made of hides, and on their heads cloth caps. I have bin told by the Natives, that many to defend themselves from this insect, dawb their faces all over, except their eies, with resine and pitch.

Besides these, there are great wasps which trouble the Rain-deers, and sting them so deep, that sometimes they leave marks behind them even when the beast is flayed: those little holes which they make with their stings the vulgar call _Kaorme_. The only remedy for the Raindeer against these, is smoak, which if not present they dip themselves in water: and let this suffice for their Animals.

CHAP. XXXI.

_Of the_ Laplanders _Trees and Plants_.

I descend from their Animals to their Trees and Plants, with which they are well stored, tho _Jovius_ observes that they have no fruit Trees, as Apple, Pear, &c. neither have they any wild Trees which will not bear the cold, as Oak, Beach, which _Ol. Pet._ takes notice of, but adds that they have plenty of Pine and Fir, Juniper and Birch, Service tree, and Willow, Alder and Dog-tree, the Asp and Ollar: but these Trees do not grow every where, for the Mountains called the _Fells_, between _Norway_ and _Lapland_, bear no Trees at all: _Pet. Claud._ thinks the reason of that to be the continual storm of wind that is on them, but perhaps a truer reason may be the extremity of cold. The ground that lies near the Mountains is thick set with Woods, with this distinction that the parts next them bears nothing but Birch tree, remarkable for their thickness and height, and pleasant prospect, Nature having contrived them so regularly that they seem afar off to be some pleasant Garden. The soil more distant from those Hills, besides Birch-trees, hath Fir and Pitch, which seems like some new kind of wood, composed of these three sorts.

Besides these, there are very few others found in _Lapland_. Shrubs, especially Currans, or Ribes are very frequent, but they regard not these because perhaps the tast is unpleasant, especially of those which bear Black-berries, which are more numerous than the others. The Junipers grow thick, being very tall and comely. This Country yields all manner of Berries, the chief are those which the _Swedes_ call _Hiortron_, some Dew-berries, or the _Norway_ Berry, whose species is the same that grows on Brambles, each Berry being divided as it were into graines of a pale yellow color, beginning to be red as they ripen. These commonly grow in marshy places. They creep on the ground, and are sustained by little props, so that they ought not to be reckoned among shrubs. The Berries are very wholsome, and are a present remedy for the Scurvy. The Inhabitants delight to eat them with their flesh and salt meats, as I mentioned before. They have a sort of black Berries, called by the _Swedes_, _Halton_, according to _Olaus Pet._ also the thin leaved heath, that bears a Berry, which some call ground Ewe, the _Swedes_, _Kraokebær_, the lesser black Berries called in _Swedland_ _Lingon_, and the lesser black Berries called _Blaobær_, all which _Olaus Pet._ takes notice of, speaking of their manner of dressing meat, particularly of the Heath-berries: whence it appears that these Berries were as plentifull with them as the former. They have all sorts of other Berries, tho the Natives do not so much value them. This Country affords very usefull Herbs, such as are Angelica, which the Inhabitant value so much that they call it the _Lapland_ herb, or Samigraes: they are much pleased with it in their meat: it grows with a short stalk, but thick. In the same place is found Sorrel, which they use too in their food. Some particular herbs they have which are not found any where else, as _Calceolum Lapponicum_, or _Brassica Rangiferorum_: what sort of herb it is _Sam. Rheen_ expresses in these words, which, tho tedious, I thought fit to transcribe that we might have his exact opinion it. There grows (saith he) an herb which they call _Calceolum Lapponicum_ because its flower is like the _Laplanders_ shoe, it is of a blew colour with three rowes of seed in the pod, it has larger leaves than the vulgar cabbage, its stalk is a finger thick and the root bitter: it grows extraordinary fast, and rises to three cubits in height, and somtimes more: it is thought a bad and unprofitable herb because no beast will tast of it. There is another herb very usefel and wholesome, and of great esteem among them, which _Olaus Pet._ take to be like a carrot, he says it is called _Mosaraoth_, haveing the tast and flower of Pimpervel growing in marshy grounds to an ell in height. That _Mosaraoth_ is not a _Lapland_ but _Swedish_ name, from _maosa_ which signifies marshy places where mosse grows, what the inhabitants call it, I cannot yet learn. And these are the peculiar herbs which this country hath: I have not met with any one that could help me to the exact shape of them. But altho this soil beare some peculiar herbs, yet there are not many species of them, which _Olaus Pet._ gathers from the _west-Bothnia_, which borders on _Lapland_, for in that place there are found but very few.

I come now to Mosse, which is of diverse sorts. The first is tree Mosse, with a kind of long wool, hanging down from the boughs, especially of the Pitch tree, and somtimes from others. The 2^d. which is very plentiful and affords food for the raindeers in the winter is ground Mosse, of a white colour, with long thin leaves growing a foot high. The 3^d. is ground mosse, but softer of a more delicate yellow green: this is pernicious to the foxes, which the inhabitants cut small and mix with their baits to catch them. The 4^{th}. is also ground mosse, short and soft, of a very fine colour, which because it is so fine they use instead of feathers to lay under Infants new born. I hear of a 5^{th}. sort with larger and longer leaves, which they call _Fathne_, good against fainting if it be bruised and drank in broth, but I doubt whether this be Mosse, I had rather believe it _Angelica_ cut small prepared and boiled under ground. The last thing which is to be mentioned is Grasse, which is of diverse kinds, the best sort is that which is found in the vallies near the mauntains called _Fells_, being short, soft, and juicy; that which grows in other places is thicker, rougher, and dryer. There is a 3^d sort thin and slender which the inhabitants use for stuffing of their shoes, and gloves, to defend their feet and hands from the weather. And these are all the trees, shrubs, and herbs of _Lapland_.

CHAP. XXXII.

_Of their Mettals._

That mettals grow in _Lapland_ and the outermost parts of _Scandinavia_, is only a conjecture of the Antients, and there is no certainty of it, therefore none of them make any mention of them. _Olaus M._ flatly denies that to his age there were any Iron, Copper, or Silver mines found, therefore they were forced to fasten their boats with osiers, without any nails because they had no Iron, but in the 35. year of this age, in _Queen Christina’s_ reign, a silver mine was discovered by the Inhabitants of _Pitha_ near _Nasafialo_ not far from the mountains which divide Swedeland from Norway, this was the first mine known in _Lapland_, found by _Loens Person_ an inhabitant of _Pitha_.

In the year 1645. _The most Illustrious Ericus Flemming L. Baron of Lais, now Senator of the Kingdome, and President of the company of Mines_, first caused it to be opened, and a melting-house built with convenient necessaries. There is also a vein of Lead richer then the Silver and easier work’t. _Rheen_ saith that the mountain is opened, not with Pickaxes or any Iron instruments: but they bore a hole, which must be fill’d with Gunpowder; when the mouth is well stopt they apply fire thro another little hole, which touching the powder breaks the hardest stones in pieces. But the use of this mine lasted no long time, for in the war between the Swedes and Danes in _Carolus Gustavus_ his reign about the year 1658. it was spoiled by one _Van Anen_ the Danish Kings Governour, from which time no man would go to the expence of cleansing and repairing the mine, because it would require a vast charge, before they could get any profit by it, which was too much for men of mean estates to undertake.