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285 ACCOUNT OF DANISH LAPLAND BY LEEMS.
They are furnifhed with an amazing and extraordinary agility of body, for a very
great number of them can be compacted into the fmalleft fpace, and one man brought
fo clofe upon another, by means of his feet being placed with art under his feat, fo
that all may fit down clofely and compactly together.
They travel over the very -higheft mountains by the fwifteft fpeed, and fafter than
thought. By a certain wooden machine, of an oblong figure, faftened to their feet,-
commonly called wooden feandals, they are carried with fuch rapidity over the highedft
mountains, through the fteepeft hills, making no ule of a ftaff, which in the midft of
their courfe, they hang carelefsly and negligently from their fhoulder, that the winds
whiz about their ears, and their hair ftands an end. Yet, notwithftanding the celerity
of their courfe, fhould you throw a ball, or any thing elfe before the runner, in the
mid{t of his fpeed, inclining his body, he inftantly overtakes it and picks it up. In-
fants can no fooner walk, than they make for the hills, and there on foot, after they
have put on their fandals, are borne through the declivities; to this exercife, from their
earlieft years, they are accuftomed.
By their rein-deer, they are borne with an incredible velocity, not only over. plains,
and open fields, but up acclivities and precipices of mountains, and while driving, fhift
the reins wlth fuch readinefs from fide to fide of the animal, as fearcely to be perceived.
Thofe who inhabit the fea coaft, know the management of boats to fuch a degree of
dexterity, that they would not yield to the beft and moft experienced feamen in this art.
This great agility of body, in my opinion is partly natural to this people, and partly
acquired, bythe frequent confumption of oil, which is got from the fat of the fifh, to
which from their very cradle they are accuftomed.
In wood and horn they have the art of forming, with a common utenfil, by the
inhabitants named (Taclle Kniv) various figures, and with a certain natural fagacity.
Hence a variety of vafes, bowls, cups, &c., are made. They fafhion their own vehicles,
the parts of which are fo well adapted to each other, fo nicely fitted, as fcarcely to
fuffer a drop of water to pafs through them ; they make too from horns, {poons, orna-
mented with various refemblances of wreaths and flowers. See Chapter XIV., con-
cerning the workmanfhip of the Laplanders.
Among the women, are alfo found fome who are not ignorant of the turning-art, or
the art of chifleling. But the ingenuity of this fex principally is exerted in fewing
together belts, and making purfes, with tin filiments interwoven in them. As they are
alfo very fkilful in throwing the javelin, they formerly made ufe of the bow and
arrow, now they ufe mufkets and bullets, with which they kill birds and beafts. The
invention of the faid Peter Nicolaus, of whom further in Chapter XVII. concerning
fports, &c., &c., there isa full account of the Laplanders, in which it has been laid
down and argued, how much they excel in the art of throwing the javelin.
Among the virtues of the Laplanders, the knowledge of the true God, defervedly
holds the firft place, which they have obtained to, in no fmall or idle degree.
Before the government of the auguft Frederic IV., the Laplanders were inveloped
in more than common darknefs. He, in addition to his other regal and glorious infti-
tutions, for promoting the converfion of mankind, by which this moft worthy prince
acquired for himfelf immortal praife, inf{tituted a miffion continued and promoted by
his fon Chriftian the VI., his grandfon Frederic the V., and his great grandfon Chriftian
the VII. our lord and king, with the fame happy aufpices of the Divine Being, and the
glory of his name, and the true felicity of the fubjects of his realm, and with a zeal,
ior which we can never return due praife, but by imploring the Divine goodnefs to
7 blefs
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