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custom without doubt prevailing that the same name, whereby in ancient
times they called the false God, was translated to the true One, both by the
Finlanders, the Biarmi and the Laplanders also who came out of Finland,
and being joined with the Biarmi made one Nation. Besides Jumala, it
seems the Laplanders had a God whom the Swedes call Thor, which may be
gathered, not only because they worship one Thor at this present among
their idols, as shall be shewn hereafter, but also because in the number
of Gods which the old Finlanders, especially the Tavasti adored, there was
reckoned Turrisas, the God of War and Victory , which was no other then
Thor. This Turrisas is put in one word for Turris-Ash (i. e.) Turris, Turrus,
or Torus (for so his name is diversly written) the Prince of the Ases, or
Asiatics, for those who in former times came out of Asia into these parts were
called Ases, of whom this Turrus was the first, who from that time was
worshipped by the Finlanders by the name of Turrisas; which may farther be
proved from Arngrinus Junæ, who saies the first King of the Finlanders was
Torrus, one of the Predecessors of King Norus, from whom some think
Norige, (i. e.) Norway, quasi Nori Rige, to take its denomination, it being
frequent for the ancient Kings to take upon them the names of their Gods.
Thus among the ancient Greeks we find many who were called by the names
of Jupiter and Neptune. So Torrus the King was so called from Torus the
ancient God of the Finlanders, from whom without doubt he was derived
to the Laplanders, together with their language, worships, and other
customs. To these two (if they are two) Jumala and Thor, may be added
the Sun, which I gather from this, because he is still reckoned among their
Gods. Besides he is generally worship’d in all barbarous and pagan Countries,
and if he be adored for his light and heat by those People, who enjoy the
benefit of a warm air and temperate climate, how much more by the Laplanders,
who for no small space endure the hardship of continual night and
bitter frosts? but I shall speak more concerning the Sun hereafter.
These are the chief Gods of the Laplanders, whether they had any of less
note may be questioned, tho I doubt it not; because at this day they
worship some others, which the Finlanders did before them, and probably
brought with them into Lapland. Of these the Carelii had Rongotheus the
God of Ry, Pellonpeko of Barly, Wierecannos of Oats, Egres of Herbs, Pease,
Turnips, Flax, and Hemp; Vko with his wife Rowne, of tempests; Kækre
the Protector of Cattel from wild beasts; Hyse had the command of Wolves,
and Bears, Nyrke of Squirrel-hunting, Hyttavanes of Hare-hunting. Some
of these the Laplanders worshipped; especially those whose help they stood
chiefly in need of to the performing of their business, as the gods of hunting
and preserving their Cattel from wild beasts, and such like: others
probably they neglected as useless, because they neither plowed nor sowed. But
I cannot say under what names they worshipped them, because I find nothing
of certainty thereof, either in their ancient records, or modern customs.
Next we must consider what kind of worship they pai’d their Gods, which
we have already mentioned; but of this also we are in great uncertainty,
unless we make our judgment from the present times, and deliver those
rites which are now used by the Laplanders in their religious performances,
but of this we shall speak more when we come to treat of the present state
of their Religion. We shall only note here what is read of Jumala. He was
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