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tf the Laplander^.
honored by them with the title oSKing, his autority was confirmed by
the Crown oS Sweden , he wore a red robe, as the token of his Roialty j
now from this Sort of garment, by which the Birkprli were distinguished
from others, it is evident they were the first rulers in thoSe parrs; and
perhaps only one governed them , whilst they dwelt near the Bay of
Bothnia y but when they enlarged their pofSeSIionsfarther into the Land,and
were divided into Several! Counties, each division had its particular
Governor. And that it was So, is manifested from the Letters of Gitfizvus thfe
first, where he divides the Birkarli into Luhlians, l’jtbions, and
Tor-nians, over which accordingly there were Severall Governors. It may
perhaps now be a diSpute , who thefe Birkarli were, by whom the Swedes
Subdued Lapland; Baraus Saies they were the Inhabitants of the allotment,
of Birkala, but 01 it us Magnus is of a different opinion, and calls them
£<r^c/5dra,thatis,menofthe mountains,fromBerga mountain, and Charar
or Karar men. What grounds be hath for this, be 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 thofe of Norway, when at that time no body inhabited
there 5 neither are there any other mountains befides thefe, from whence
they lhould take this name : moreover, the Birkarli were Subjefls 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 alfo from the Letters of Cnitfe Joanfon,
written in Latine , in the year 1318, where he faies in the Parliament
held at Telge, betwixt the Helfingers and Birkarleboa in his prefence, there
was iSTued out this Placart, <fcrf. This ferves to confute Olaus. It is more
evident that they came from Birkfila, an allotment in Tavafiia,and defcribed
in the Mapps. Next, as to Gufiavus the firSt mentioning the Birkarli, in
the forefaid Letters, as belonging to feverall marches, viz. Luhla, Pitha,
and Torna it was upon this account: the Birkarli that defceuded from
thoSe of Tavafiia , were placed in thtfe feverall Towns to govern the
Laplanders, and becaufe they only had the priviledge of commerce with them,
they were called Merchants. They were ufed in the Summer to buy thofe
commodities of the Merchants that came to Bothnia, which were neceSfary
for the Laplanders, and in the Winter, when the Rivers and Lakes were
frozen over, they carried them up into the Countrey. This way oftrafic
was ufed by all the Inhabitants of Bothnia, but perhaps only at first by
one allotment,which growing populous, feverall cf the Inhabitants removed
farther inro the Countrey , and retained the fame priviledge that was first
granted by Ladulaus, vi%. that no one, but they, Should claim any
pri-viledges 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 Cnnte J0 an Jon , in the
time of King Smecke, in which it was provided that the Birkirh Should not
be molested either in their paSFage to or Srom the Laplanders. This
priviledge they maintained till Gufiavus the first, who made a Contrail with
them at Vpfalon the 4,hof April 15:8, concerning the yearly tribute they
were to pay to the Crown , for the great advantages they received fiom
the Laplanders. This tribute was only in refpeft of the priviledges the
CL2 Birkarli
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