Part 9

We come now to their secular affairs, which are either public or private: we will treat first of the public, to which belong the form and constitution of their Government. This in former times, before they were named _Laplanders_, was in this manner; they were subject to no neighbouring Country, but were governed among themselves yet so as to be subject to a King, they chose out of their own Nation. Most of them, or at least those which bordered on _Norway_, and dwelt near the Sea, were under this kind of Government, in the time of _Harauld Harfager_ King of _Norway_, cotemporary with _Ericus_ the Conqueror, King of the _Swedes_, this was 900 years after Christ; he conquered the greatest part of _Norway_, except these _Finlanders_. The King that reigned over them at that time, was named _Mottle_. This account was questionless taken from _Haralds_ expedition into _Biarmia_, and his ruining all that Countrey, except the part belonging to these _Finlanders_. In those times the name of _Laplanders_ was neither used, nor known, as I have shewn elsewhere, but they retained that of their ancestours, which was also common to all of the same extraction.

Their condition was not much altered, after that they took this name; which was when they first sent out Colonies into the inland Countries, on the farther part of the mountains, which divide _Swedland_ from _Norway_. For they that went out had certainly some Leader, whom without doubt they chose for King, after they had taken possession of those Countries; and I believe they would scarcely submit to any other power whilst that he was living; and this seems the more probable, because no one in those daies would undertake the conquest of a company of poor beggarly fugitives, who dwelt among Woods and Deserts, in continual snow and the greatest extremity of cold. This was the _Moscovites_ opinion of them, who tho they dwelt near them, scarcely knew their nature and disposition, and thought it madness to set upon them with a small party, and an adventure of little profit, and less honour to raise an Army against a Country already distressed by poverty. For this reason the _Laplanders_ enjoied their own customs for a long time. The first King of _Sweden_ that had any thoughts of conquering them was _Ladulaus_ the great, who florished about the year 1277, who because it seemed difficult to bring them under the Crown of _Sweden_, promised those that would undertake the conquest, the government over them. He thought it too expensive to make a public war upon them, when they were to be dealt with as wild beasts; yet however could not endure that a neighbouring People, dwelling almost in the heart of his Country, for they possessed at that time as far as the Bay of _Bothnia_, should refuse obedience to his Kingdom. Wherefore he thought upon the before mentioned project, and proposed great advantages to private persons, upon which the _Birkarli_, their neighbours, readily engaged themselves, and effected their enterprize no less successfully. In this design, the plot of a particular person was most remarkable, as is related by _Ericus_, and recorded by _John Buræus_. One single man of the _Birkarli_ went towards _Lapland_ to way-lay the _Laplanders_ in their return from _Birkala_, (at this time no one inhabited on the North side of that allotment) and ordered his wife to cover him over with snow, in the middle of the way where the _Laplanders_ must necessarily pass over him. They came in the night time, and by their passing over him he knew there were fifteen, which were the chief among them, and to whom the rest were in subjection; when they were gone, he immediately arose out of the snow, and going some shorter way, set upon them at unawares, as they passed by, one by one, which is their usual way in travelling, and slew them one after another. None of those that followed perceived the first men slain, it being in the night time, and each of them at some distance from the others; till the last man finding his fellows killed, made a stout resistance, but the _Birkarla_ by the assistance of his wife got the victory, and slew him likewise. Thus the most powerfull of them being slain, the rest readily submitted. Some think the _Birkarli_ deluded them by a pretended truce, and that before it was expired, they assaulted them, not suspecting then the least danger, and killing several, subdued the Countrey, as far as the Northern and Western Oceans. We may easily collect from the truce mentioned here, that before their subjection to the _Swedes_ by the _Birkarli_, there was some kind of war betwixt both: besides, it was shewn above, that _Ladulaus_ could not bring them under his Crown. This perhaps may be _Zeiglers_ meaning, when he describes them as a warlike People, and free for a great time, that they also withstood the Arms of _Norway_ and _Sweden_, till they were forced at last to yeild; but what _Zeigler_ imputes to their valour, proceeded only from the contemt they were then in, as is plain from the opinion the _Moscovites_ gave of them. And there is little reason to suppose the _Swedes_ were not of the same, since they were overcome only by the allotment of _Birkala_; and _Ladulaus_ did not conquer them out of any fear he conceived of their forces, but by sleight, foreseeing the small advantages he should receive would not quit the charges of an Army. Thus the _Laplanders_ were brought in subjection by the subtilty and expence of private persons. About the year of our Saviour 1277, the _Birkarli_ had the autority over them; yet so as to acknowledg their dependance on the King of _Sweden_. Now whether all of them were thus overcome, as those that lived beyond the mountains of _Norway_, near the Sea, which are the _Finlanders_, or _Lappofinni_, is still in doubt, except we collect it from this, that all from the Northern and Western Oceans were certainly subjected. But whatever dispute may arise concerning that, it is manifest the _Swedes_ were the first Conquerours of _Lapland_, but afterwards the _Norwegians_ and _Moscovites_ following their example, put in also for a part; thus they became subject to these three severall Princes. But to pass by the others, the _Swedes_ enjoyed, for some former ages, half the dominions from _Tidisfiorden_ to _Walangar_, over the _Lappofinni_, or maritime _Finlanders_. This was given by _Charles_ the IX, in his instructions to his Embassadors, sent to the King of _Danemark_, wherein he made it appear that the _Swedes_ had from former times, till then, enjoied half the rights, both sacred and civill, whether as to tributes, punishments, men, or fisherie, with the Crowns of _Danemark_ and _Norway_. But the _Swedes_ kept only a third part from _Malanger_ to _Waranger_, those of _Norway_ and _Moscovy_ laying claim to the other two, till in the year 1595, the _Moscovites_, by a League, delivered up their part, but the _Swedes_ alwaies possessed the mountainous and more neighbouring places from _Ladulaus_’s time, for near four hundred years, and exercised their autority over them. The Government after the conquest was in the hands of the _Birkarli_, according to the grant given them by _Ladulaus_, who ruled over those that dwelt near the Bay of _Bothnia_, imposed taxes, trafficked with them, and received all the profit of the Salmon fishing, and all other advantages arising from them; but in acknowledgement to the King, as Supreme, they paid a certain number of gray Squirrils skins. The _Laplanders_, by common consent, received and honored the _Bergchara_, that is men of the mountains, or _Birkarli_, as their Governours, and paid them very rich skins, and severall sorts of fish, both for their tribute to the King of _Sweden_, and their own proper uses. Neither were there any other commissioned by the King in those times to govern them, as will appear afterwards. He, that was their Governor was honored by them with the title of King, his autority was confirmed by the Crown of _Sweden_, he wore a red robe, as the token of his Roialty; now from this sort of garment, by which the _Birkarli_ were distinguished from others, it is evident they were the first rulers in those parts; and perhaps only one governed them, whilst they dwelt near the Bay of _Bothnia_, but when they enlarged their possessions farther into the Land, and were divided into severall Counties, each division had its particular Governor. And that it was so, is manifested from the Letters of _Gustavus_ the first, where he divides the _Birkarli_ into _Luhlians_, _Pythians_, and _Tornians_, over which accordingly there were severall Governors. It may perhaps now be a dispute, who these _Birkarli_ were, by whom the _Swedes_ subdued _Lapland_; _Buræus_ saies they were the Inhabitants of the allotment, of _Birkala_, but _Olaus Magnus_ is of a different opinion, and calls them _Bergchara_, that is, men of the mountains, from _Berga_ mountain, and _Charar_ or _Karar_ men. What grounds he hath for this, he neither declares, nor can I easily imagine. But I think them so small that they will find little credit any where; for from whence, or from what mountains should they be thus called? not from those of _Norway_, when at that time no body inhabited there; neither are there any other mountains besides these, from whence they should take this name: moreover, the _Birkarli_ were subjects to the _Swedes_, and conversed commonly with the _Laplanders_. The public records also contradict this opinion, for in them there is no mention of _Bergcharli_, but _Birkarleboa_. It is yet clearer also from the Letters of _Cnute Joanson_, written in Latine, in the year 1318, where he saies in the Parliament held at _Telge_, betwixt the _Helsingers_ and _Birkarleboa_ in his presence, there was issued out this Placart, _&c._ This serves to confute _Olaus_. It is more evident that they came from _Birkala_, an allotment in _Tavastia_, and described in the Mapps. Next, as to _Gustavus_ the first mentioning the _Birkarli_, in the foresaid Letters, as belonging to severall marches, _viz._ _Luhla_, _Pitha_, and _Torna_ it was upon this account: the _Birkarli_ that descended from those of _Tavastia_, were placed in these severall Towns to govern the _Laplanders_, and because they only had the priviledge of commerce with them, they were called Merchants. They were used in the Summer to buy those commodities of the Merchants that came to _Bothnia_, which were necessary for the _Laplanders_, and in the Winter, when the Rivers and Lakes were frozen over, they carried them up into the Countrey. This way of trafic was used by all the Inhabitants of _Bothnia_, but perhaps only at first by one allotment, which growing populous, severall of the Inhabitants removed farther into the Countrey, and retained the same priviledge that was first granted by _Ladulaus_, _viz._ that no one, but they, should claim any priviledges over the _Laplanders_, either as to the Government, tribute, commerce, or any thing of this nature, which priviledges they for a long time enjoied, as is confirmed by the Letters wrote by _Cnute Joanson_, in the time of King _Smecke_, in which it was provided that the _Birkarli_ should not be molested either in their passage to or from the _Laplanders_. This priviledge they maintained till _Gustavus_ the first, who made a Contract with them at _Upsal_ on the 4^{th} of _April_ 1528, concerning the yearly tribute they were to pay to the Crown, for the great advantages they received from the _Laplanders_. This tribute was only in respect of the priviledges the _Birkarli_ had from _Ladulaus_’s time till then, these were so largely granted, that they setled them as hereditary upon their children, and none but those descended from the _Birkarli_ could enjoy them. This _Gustavus_ also confirmed according to the former grants made to their ancestors, but with this alteration that they should pay half as much more, as they did formerly. This Government the _Birkarli_ exercised over the _Laplanders_ which they got by subtility, had their autority from the King of _Sweden_, preserved it in their own family, and delivered it down to their children for near 300 years, till _Gustavus_ the first, by reason of their insulting over the common People, deprived them of this state; for when their riches encreased they oppressed the poorer sort, and extorted so much from them that they left them very little, but that which was worth nothing. Upon this, complaint was made to _Gustavus_, who thereupon committed _Henricus Laurentii_ to prison, and confiscated most of his estate, taking then the tribute from the _Laplanders_ into his hands, and granted to all People free trading with them. This _Henricus Laurentii_ was without doubt in that time the head of the _Birkarli_, and I believe the brother of _David Laurentii_, who, together with _Jonas Nicolas_, concluded the Treaty with _Gustavus_ in the name of the _Birkarli_, in the year 1528, for setling the tribute, and other affairs. From hence we may collect they lost their priviledges, not long after this Contract; now it was not only just to deprive them of those priviledges, which they abused in oppressing others, but prudent, as well from the jealousy of too great a power granted to private persons over so large and populous a part of the Kingdome, as out of consideration of its wealth, which was more necessary to the Kings, for driving out the common enemy, ane establishing the Kingdomes liberty, then to maintain the pride of the _Birkarli_, who besides their injustice, were inconsiderable both in number and strength. _Gustavus_ the first having thus deposed the _Birkarli_, sent Deputies to gather the tribute, and manage all things in the Kings name; the Deputies are called by the _Swedes_, _Lappfougder_, by the _Laplanders_, _Konunga Olmai_, that is the Kings men; of these there is mention made in the patent granted by _Gustavus_ the first to M^r _Michael_, the first Priest in _Lapland_ in 1559, the words are to this purpose, _We commend all the Inhabitants of_ Lapland, _as well Deputies, as others_, &c. These had at first the charge of all public affairs, as will appear in the following Chapter, as for collecting taxes, as executing justice among them. But afterwards, when _Charles_ the ninth divided the Countrey into several parts, and formed it into better order, more were added to the former, for examining causes, convicting of criminals, and other such like things, till at last the state of Government was little different from what it is now. Next under the King, they have a Provincial Judge called by the _Swedes_, _Lagman_, under him one of the Senators, _Underlagman_, next an Interpreter of the Laws, _Laglæsaren_, and divers others which enquire into causes, and do justice; then they have a Governour of the Province, _Landzhœfdingh_, a head over the _Laplanders_, _Lappafougten_, their Officers who perform all other duties. In this manner the _Laplanders_ are now governed by the _Swedes_.

CHAP. XIII.

_Of the Judicatures and Tributes of the_ Laplanders.

After the manner of their Government, and the discipline they live under, we descend to those affairs that are managed by it; which belong either to the Courts of Judicature, or to the Tribute. I can scarce find any mention of the former. Their own Kings, when they were a free Nation, exercised this autority, and kept the jurisdiction in their own hands; but when the _Birkarli_ ruled them, it depended altogether on their plesure. _Zeigler_ makes no mention of any Judges among them, but saies that if any dispute happened that was dubious, it was referred to the Courts in _Swedland_; I suppose he means the more weighty controversies, which the _Birkarli_ could not, or did not dare to decide. But these were very rare with them, for great crimes, as theft, rapine, murder, adultery, or such like are seldom committed and scarce known by the _Laplanders_. They neither borrow nor lend mony, being content with what they possess of their own, which are commonly the occasions of quarrels in other Nations, and maintain so many Lawyers. The chief sin they are guilty of is their magical superstition, which since their embracing Christianity, is forbidden by the Laws, and is not so frequent as formerly. After that _Gustavus_ the first had deposed the _Birkarli_, and given them Governors of their own, they lived under better discipline, and greater diligence was used in seeing Justice done, but _Charles_ the ninth was the first that took care to have them instructed in the Swedish Laws, and that they should regulate themselves accordingly. This charge was given by the same King in his instructions to _Laurentius Laurentii_, Governor of _Lapland_, dated from _Stockholm_ on the 10^{th} of Oct. 1610, wherein he commanded him to govern those of _Uma_, _Pitha_, and _Luhla_, according to the Swedish Laws, and to protect them from all injuries. There are at present in _Lapland_ three Governors, and as many Courts of Judicature: the first is called _Anundsiœense_, or _Angermansian_, the other _Uhmensian_, _Pithensian_ and _Luhlensian_, the other is the _Tornensian_, and _Kiemensian_. Over these are particular Governors, who in the Kings name pass Sentence, but in the presence of a Judge and a Priest; where it is observable that they added Priests to the Governors, to restrain them from doing injustice by the autority of their presence. Now as to the time when these Courts were called, it is a doubt, but I believe it was at the Fair times, when they met about all public business; this was commonly twice in a year, _viz._ in Winter and Summer, according to an order of _Charles_ the ninth’s. It is now in _January_ and _February_. They were held in the same places where they kept their Markets and Fairs, which were determined in each particular County, as will appear by and by.

Now we come to the Tribute they paid, which at first was only skins of beasts, paid not by the _Laplanders_, but the _Birkarli_, yet only as an acknowledgement of their subjection to the Crown of _Sweden_. _Buræus_ calls it _naogra timber graoskin_, _graoskin_ signifies gray Squirrils skins, of which color the Squirrils were constantly in the Winter; _timber_ denotes the number of the skins, which were fourty, tied together in a bundle. It is uncertain how many of these bundles the _Birkarli_ gave, but in the Contract with _Gustavus_ the first, those of _Luhla_ and _Pitha_ were engaged to pay 8, which makes in all 360 skins, besides two Martins skins. Those also of _Torne_ were taxed with the same number; and shortly after this number was doubled, by an agreement made in 1528. But after the _Birkarli_ had lost their priviledges, for the forementioned reasons, and the King received the tax by Commissioners for himself, it is very probable some more alteration were made. In the year 1602 they paid instead of skins every tenth Rain-deer, and one tenth of all their dried fish; which is clear from the commands given by _Charles_ to his Deputies _Olaus Burman_ and _Henry Benegtson_, at _Stockholm_ on the 22^d of _July_ in the same year, to require the tribute in this manner, that so the _Laplanders_ might know what and how much they were to pay: for it seems that from _Gustavus_ the first’s time, till then, the Governors used no constant method in raising it, but sometimes demanded skins, at other times other sorts of goods that seemed most necessary for present use; so that by this uncertainty the tribute grew very heavy upon the Inhabitants, and their Governors took occasion from it to exact what they pleased under pretence of the public account, for their own proper uses. Yet this custom continued not long, being thought perhaps too burthensome to the _Laplanders_, and very prejudiciable to their herds; wherefore it was ordered in 1606, that every one which was then 17 years of age, should pay either two Bucks, or three Does out of their herds of Rain-deers, and eight pound of dried fish; as also every tenth Fawn out of their stock, and every tenth tun from their fishery. This tax was also imposed on the _Birkarli_ that had any trafic with them. This order was kept a long while, and renewed again by the same King in 1610. The tribute they pay at this time is either mony, Rain-deers, or skins, either plain or fitted up for use. These they pay according to the largeness of the Provinces in which they dwell, the largest of which, they say, are _een heel skatt_, that is, they pay the full tribute; the lesser _een half skatt_, that is, half tribute; and so likewise for the rest. He that possesseth a Province of the whole tribute, pays two _Patacoons_, which they call _Skattadaler_, and others that have lesser possessions and half tribute, give one _Patacoon_; those which want mony, pay fish or skins, which are commonly of Foxes or Squirrils, of these 50, of the others one with a pair of _Lapland_ shoes, are equal to a _Patacoon_: two pounds also of dry fish are of the same value; now to every pound of dried fish they allow five over, because so much is commonly lost in the drying. They call this pound with its addition _Skattpund_, that is the pound for tribute. They value their Rain-deers at 3 Dollars a piece, and pay the tenths of them, not each family, but every hundred. I have set the prices down here, because if any one had rather keep his Cattel, he can be forced to no more then after this rate. Now concerning the tenths they pay of skins, every housholder is taxed one white Foxe’s skin, or a pair of _Lapland_ shoes; if he hath neither of these, half a pound of dried Jack. This is the Tribute yearly received by the Crown of _Sweden_ from _Lapland_, of which the greatest part is commonly by the Kings gracious favor allowed for the maintenance of their Priests, as was shewn in another place. Now because it is so far both by Sea and Land, before these commodities can be brought to the Kings Storehouses, besides the ordinary tax they give a pair of _Lapland_ shoes, which they call _Haxapalka_, that is the price for carriage. This is all they pay to the King of _Sweden_, but besides they are tributary to the Crown of _Danmark_, and the great Duke of _Moscovy_, not as Subjects to these Princes, but upon the account of their receiving several advantages from their Dominions in their hunting and fishing. Those that are thus, are all the allotments of _Torna_ beyond the mountains, who by reason of the liberty they have to bring down their Cattel from the mountains into the vallies in the Summer time, near the Sea shore, and taking the opportunity from thence of fishing, are taxed by the _Danes_, but not at above half the rate that they pay to the _Swedes_. These allotments are called _Koutokeine_, _Aujouara_, _Teno_, and _Utziocki_. The _Laplanders_ also of the allotment of _Enare_ in _Kiemi_, are in the same condition, who for fishing and hunting pay both to the _Danes_ and _Moscovites_ as well as to the _Swedes_: to the first one half, to the other a third part of what the _Swedes_ receive. The tribute was in former time gathered when the Governor pleased, but afterwards only in the Winter, against which time it was all brought into Storehouses, each County having its proper place for that purpose. But when the place for their Markets and Fairs was determined, the Governor came thither and received it, which course they still take in this business. That this was also the time for receiving it, will appear from the account I shall give of their Fairs in the next Chapter.

CHAP. XIV.

_Of the_ Laplanders _Fairs, and Customs in Trading._