The History of Lapland: Wherein Are Shewed the Original, Manners, Habits, Marriages, Conjurations, &c. of That PeopleScheffer, Johannes
History
The History of Lapland: Wherein Are Shewed the Original, Manners, Habits, Marriages, Conjurations, &c. of That People
Scheffer, Johannes
Lapland -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; Sami (European people)
First of all, their business is to find out where the Bear makes his
den against Winter. He that finds it is said _hafwa ringet bioern_,
i.e. to encompass the Bear. He usually after this goes to all his
friends and acquaintance with much joy, to invite them to the hunting
as to a solemn and magnificent feast, for, as is before said, this
beasts flesh is a great delicacy. But they never meet before _March_
or _April_, till they can use their sliding shooes: at which time
he chooses the best drummer among them, and by his beating consults
whether the hunting will be prosperous or no, which done they all
march into the field in battel array after him that invited them as
Captain, who must use no other weapon then a club, on whose handle is
hung an Alchymy ring. Next him goes the drummer, then he that is to
give the first blow, and after all the rest as their office requires,
one to boil the flesh, another to divide it, a third to gather sticks
and provide other necessaries: so they strictly observe that one
should not incroach upon anothers office. When in this order they
are come to the den, they set upon the Bear valiantly, and kill him
with spears and guns, and presently sing in token of victory thus,
_Kittulis pourra, Kittulis ii skada tekamis soubbi iælla zaiiti_, that
is, _they thank the Bear for coming_, _and doing them no harm in not
breaking their weapons_, in the singing of which their Captain is the
cheif Musician. After celebration of their victory, they drag the Bear
out, beating him with staves, whence they have a Proverb, _slao bioern
med riis_, that is, _the Bear is beat_, which signifies he is killed.
Then putting him upon a sledge, they draw him with Rain-deers to the
Hut where he is to be boiled, singing _Ii paha talki oggio, ii paha
talka pharonis_, that is, _they beseech the Bear that he would not
raise tempests against them, or any way hurt them that killed him_.
This they say by way of jest, unless we will suppose them (as some
of them really do) to imagine the killing of some kind of wild beast
portends ill to the hunter. _Samuel Rheen_ speaks of a different song
from this we have mentioned, much to this purpose, that they thank
God for making beasts for their service, and giving them strength and
courage to encounter and overcome so strong and cruel a creature, and
therefore I beleive they may join them together and sing both. That
Rain-deer that brings home the Bear is not to be used by Women for a
year, and some say, by any body else. If there be materialls, near the
place where the Bear is kill’d, they usually build up a hovel there to
boil him in, or if not, carry him to a place that is more convenient,
where all their Wives stay to expect them, and as soon as the men come
nigh them they sing _Læibi ia tuoli susco_, that is they ask their
wives to chew the bark of the Alder Tree and spit it in their faces.
They use this rather then any other Tree, because when ’tis bruised
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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