Page:Northern Antiquities 1.djvu/88

At the northern extremity of this kingdom and of Europe, dwells a people, which, from the earlieft ages, have differed from the other inhabitants of Scandinavia, in figure, manners, and language. This nation, known by the name of FINNS, or LAPLANDERS, not only poffefs the northern parts of Norway, but alfo vaft countries in Mufcovy and Sweden. They are a coarfe and favage race of men, yet by no means barbarous, if we underftand by this word mifchievous and cruel. Such of them as live upon the fea-coafts fupport themfelves by fishing, and by a traffic they carry on with a fort of little barks, which they make and fell to the Norwegians. The reft wander up and down in the mountains without any fixed habitation, and gain a fcanty subsistence by hunting, by their pelteries, and their rain-deer. Such of them as are neighbours to the Norwegians have embraced chriftianity, and are fomewhat civilized by their commerce with that people. The reft live ftill in ignorance, not knowing fo much as the names of the other nations of the world; preferved by their poverty and their climate from the evils which difturb the enjoyments of more opulent countries. Their whole religion confifts in fome confufed notions of an invifible and tremendous being: and a few fuperftitious ceremonies compofe their worship. They have no laws, and