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CHAP. V.
Of the Laplanders in reference to the inclinations,
temper and habit, of their minds and bodies.
It is almost peculiar to this People to be all of them of low stature, which
is attested by the general suffrage of these Writers who have described this
Country. Hence the learned Ifaac Vossius observes, that Pygmies are said to
inhabit here; and adds thit they are a deformed People: but in truth their
feature and proportion is good enough, and that they are not distorted
sufficiently appears from their great agility of body, and fitness for active
emploiment. Not need we diapute of this, since in Sweden, we see them every day
among us, and can observe no defect in any kind, or deformity, by Lomemius
unjustly ascribed to them. Ol. Mag. and Tornæus esteem their young women
indifferently handsome, and of a clear skin, which I have often seen my self;
for they take great care to preserve their natural beauty, which the men
neglect to do: and therefore if they are less amiable then the other Sex, it is to
be imputed to their choice, not nature. To which we may add the length of
their frosts, and the bitterness of the Air, against which they neither arm
themselves sufficiently with clothes, nor know how to do so: besides the smoak
which continually fills their cottages empairs very much their natural
complexion, which is the reason why most of the men also are so swarthy. And as they
are generally short, they are also very lean, and ’tis rare to see a fat man
amongst them, for the cold that prevents their growing tall, dries up likewise
their moisture, and makes them apt to be slender. They are also very light
in respect of their bulk and stature, which comes from their not eating any Salt,
if we will believe Ol. Petr. And thus much may be said in general of the frame
and condition of their bodies. As for their particular parts they have thick
heads, prominent foreheads, hollow and blear eyes, short flat noses, and wide
mouths. Their hair is thin, short and flaggy, their beard stragling, and
scarce covers their chins. The hair of both Sexes is generally black and hard,
very seldom yellow, their breasts broad, slender wasts, spindle shanks, and
swift of foot. They are very strong in their limbs, so that in a bow which a
Norwegian can scarce half bend, they will draw an arrow up to the head. Their
strength is accompanied with such activity withall, that with their bows and
quivers at their backs they will throw themselves thro a hoop of but a cubit in
diameter. But this seems to be spoken only of some Tumblers, for the People
are generally ignorant of such sports; their usual exercises being running
races, climbing inaccessible rocks and high trees. Tho they are thus nimble
and strong, yet they never go upright, but stooping, which habit they get
by frequent sitting in their cottages on the ground.
We come now to the habits of their mind, in which ’tis first observable
that they are much given to superstition, which is no wonder while they live
in Woods among wild Beasts, and maintain little correspondence one with another:
but of their superftition we shall treat elswhere. Furthermore they are
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