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174 REGNARD’S JOURNEY TO LAPLAND.
this time that he receives the tenths of the fkins of rein-deer, of cheefe, of gloves, of
fhoes, and other articles, according to the ability of thofe who make them prefents.
‘The Laplanders who have the moft chriftianity do not confine themfelves to making
prefents to their paftors, but they alfo make offerings to the church. We have feen a
number of {kins of minevers, which hung before the altar, and when they wifh to ward
off fome difeafe which affects their flocks, or to pray to God for profperity, they carry
fins of the rein-deer to church, and extend them on the path-way which leads to the
altar, and over which the prieft muft neceffarily pafs ; and in this manner they believe
that they have drawn down the benediction of heaven. The priefts have a great deal to
do at this time ; for as the greater part come only at this period, once during the whole
year, it becomes neceflary to perform as much religious bufinels in eight or fifteen days,
as is done in other places throughout the whole year. It is during this time that the
majority have their daughters baptifed, and that they bury the bodies of thofe who have
died during f{ummer : for when any one dies whilft they are at the weftern fea, or in
fome other part of Lapland, as they are unable to carry the body on account of
the badnefs of the roads, and as they have no opportunity of removing them, they
inter them near the fpot where they expired, either in fome cavern, or below fome
{tones, for the purpofe of taking them up again in winter, when the fnow allows them
an opportunity of conveying them to the church. Others, to prevent the body from
putrefying, place them in their coffins under water, which confift, as I have already
mentioned, of a tree hollowed out, or of their fledges, and never draw them out again
till they intend to carry them to the burying-ground. They alfo marry at the fair; for
as all their friends are prefent on this occafion, they generally put off the marriage ce-
remony till this time, for the purpofe of rendering it more folemn, and for procuring
more amufement.
The goods which the Laplanders bring to thefe fairs are rein-deer and their {kins :
they alfo fell at this time the fkins of black, red, and white foxes, and otters, gulonum, of
martins, of caftors, of ermines, of wolves, of minevers, amd bears; befides the dreffes
of the Laplanders, with boots, gloves, fhoes, and all forts of dried fifth, and cheefe from
the rein-deer.
They give thefe articles in exchange for fpirits, eoarfe cloths, filver, copper, iron,
fulphur, needles, knives, and hides, which are brought to them from Mufcovy. Their
goods bear always the fame price: a rein-deer, of middling value, is fold for two crowns =
four {kins are equal to one deer; a /imber of minevers, which confilts of forty fkins, is
valued at a crown; the fkin of a martin the fame fum ; that of the bear cofts as much,
and three white fox fkins coft no more. The price of goods is in the fame manner
limited: half an ell of cloth is valued at a crown; apint of {pirits as much; a pound of
tobacco the fame price ; and when they wifh to purchafe articles of fmaller value, the
fale is concluded by means of one, two, or three fkins of minevers, according to the value
of the commodity.
All thefe affairs are not concluded with the fame franknefs as formerly ; and as the
Laplanders, who conducted themfelves with fidelity, faw themfelves cheated, the fear of
being {till deceived puts them fo much on their guard, that they rather cheat them-
felves than expofe themfelves to be cheated.
Nothing is a better evidence of the little chriftianity which the majority of the Lap-
landers poflefs, than the reluctance which they difplay towards an attendance at church
to hear the prieft, and to aflift in the fervice. It is neceflary for the magiftrate to force
them to attend, which he does by fending men to their huts for the purpofe of obferving
whether they are there. Some of them to be allowed to abfent themfelves pay money :
fome
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