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and Cvfioms in Trading. (9
among them of great and extraordinary value, that indeed is to be bought
with mony.
Their cuftom is now, not as formerly, to bargain by Signs and nods,
but either they uSe Speech, ( for there are many cf them now that are
skilled in that of their neighbours) or Interpreters, of which there art
plenty enough among them. They with whom they trafic are for the most
part their neighbours, on the one fide the Swedes and Norwegians, on the
other the Finlanders, Ruffians, and Mofcovites. Neither was it otherwise
in old times, unlefs when they were under the power of the Birkarli, who
endeavouring to get all the trade into their own hands, did more narrowly
watch thofe that were nighest Sweden, that So they might exclude all but
themSelves from trafficking in any part of Lapland. The power that we
read was given the Birkarli over the Laplanders by Ladulaus the great
King, I SuppoSe, chiefly confistedin this; for the otherSpeciall rights and
priviledges, which they and their ancestors for a long time poSTeSTed , Gtt*
flavus the first hath fet down , as I hive in another place declared.
And this we may alfo gather from the prohibition of Charles the ninth,
denying the Birkarli the priviledge of trafficking in Lapland, as they had
formerly done. The words of the injun&ion published in the year 1602
are to this purpofe ; And we do utterly forbid the Birkarli anymore to trade
for skins or other commodities, as they have formerly ufed. Before this time
therefore they were either the only, orchi;f Merchants in Lapland,
whither when they had brought their merchandife,they went round the Country
purchafing all the skins they could, of which afterwards they made great
Sums of mony. And this they continually did till the time of Guftavus the
first, when that priviledge began tobedenyed them; by which they were
grown So richandpowerfull, and what is the common confequent thereof,
proud and haughty.
But neither could Guftavui provide against all their arts and evafions;
for tho he took from them all power over the Laplanders, yet they being
better skilled in the commodities of the Country and constitution of the
People then others , did still, tho not fo openly, keep correfpondence and
tratic with.them, till in the year ifioi, in the time of Charles the ninth,
they were forbid by the forementioned injunction, at any time , or in any
place, to hold any commerce with them , and the monopoly ofall skins was
annext to the Crown ^ a certain rate being fet at which they were to be
fold- The words of the Edittare thus : "Whatfoever skins are found in
" Lapland, we do command and enjoyn our Governors to buy up for our
"ufe, according to the statute and rate in that cafe provided. And this
was alfo again enforced in the year 1610, only in this there was a claufe
inferred , that the skins of Elkes lhould be brought into the Kings -trefury
gratis. The clauSe runs thus: " And we do command all Laplanders in our
" name to bring to our Governors all faleable skins, for which they Shall
"return the worth in other commodities, as is by statute provided; but
" the skins of Likes they Shall Seize upon for our ufe , not giving any
con-"fideration for them; if any man Shall take this beast, it Shall £e law*
" full for him to keep the fleSh for his own private ufe , but the skin (hall
" belong to Us and our Crown. But their trading is now grown more
general, and they have of late years learned to deal more freely and openly
S with
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