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108 Of,the Laplanders Divertifements.
from bufinefs, ’tis the general and most recieved accompt, that making and
receiving viSits, and familiar conversation become the greateft part of their
recreations. For whereas their manner of life fo nearly refembles
folitari-neSs, that each family Seems confined to its own hut, they can take no
greater fatisfa«ftion in any thing then Such mutual entercourSe. And here it
may be dbferved, that in their diScourSes at theSe meetings of friends and
acquaintance, ufually the most ordinary affairs and daily occurrences
have the chiefest place: as particularly their welfare, emploiments, and the
like. But beSides’tis their humor to make remarks upon the transa&ions of
all forreiners, whoSe names or customes commerce has at any time brought
to their knowledg. And Sunhermore they can take no greater pride, then
either in traducing the management of their affairs, or impofing drollilh
Nick-names upon them. Tho indeed thoSe oSthe richer Sort are uSed to
entertain (heir viSitants with greater merriment and magnificence. Befides
theSe vifits they uSeSome Sports wherewith they recreate themfelves,
especially in Winter ( when for fome fpace of time they live as fcateringly as in
Summer , but are more familiar,) or at their public aSfemblies in the places
of Judicature and Fairs. Again Some Sports arc looked upon as only
peculiar to men , others the female Sex alfo have their part in. Of the first fort
this is one. They make a line in the Snow, in place of a goal: behind it at
fome paces distance they fet up a mark, from whence eachperSon taking
a run to the goal, and there taking his rife, throws his body as far as
polSi-bly he can, and he that at one leap compaffes the greateft fpace of ground,
is reckon d the Conqueror. In this first Sport they both leap and run.
Another they have where the trial of skill confifts in leaping only, and that too
not in length but height; there ftand two men uprignr, at no great distance
the one from theother,and holdin their hands fometimesa rope, Sometimes
a pole, now higher, now lower, as is agreed upon by the combatants,
ufually at the common height of a man: then each Perfon attemts to leap over
from a ftation afTign’d, and he that performs moft dextroufly, gains the
applaufe to himfelf. A third fort of l’port among them is with bow and
arrows. At a convenient plaoe they fct up a markofavery Small bigneSs, and
fhoot at it with arrows from any diftance preScrib’d. He that hits either
looneft or oftneft, bears away the bell from the reft. TheSe Sports hitherto
mentioned are almoft inftitutedby them meerly for the consideration of
credit and renown : yet Sometimes they play for prizes Such as they agree
upon among themfelves, and inliantly they lay them down in the place where
they keep their games. Their prizes are feldom mony, uSually skins,
efpe-cially of Squirrels, fometimes one, Sometimes more as they fee convenient
and agree upon it. But in thofe fports wherein as well the women as men
are plaiers, they commonly play with a leather ball fluffed with hay, about
the bignels of ones fift ; whatever company of men and women is there
prefent, is forted into two fides, one whereof Seizes on thisground, the other
on another oppofue to it, and at fome diftance off. Then every Perfon of
one fide in his turn, beats the ball with a club thorough the Air , thofe of
the contrary fide catching it at thefall; and if any one chance to catch it in
his hands, before it tcuch ground, then the order of the play is inverted,
and this fide Strikes out the ball, the other is fain to catch. Thus play the
men
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