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)
The woman with child laies her burden in a hut, but (which any body
may understand) a sufficient incommodious one, especially if the time
of her delivery happen to be in the Winter, for tho they have a fire
kindled in the middle of the hut, yet that can give her but little
warmth. After her delivery, her first restorative and cordial, is a
good draught of Whales fat, which they procure out of _Norway_, the
tast of which is as strong and ill savoured as of a Sea-calves lard,
when dried. The child, as soon as brought forth is washed over as in
other Countries, but it is a peculiar custom of the _Laplanders_ that
first they do it with cold water or snow, and then afterwards dip them
in hot water, when it begins to fetch its wind, and can scarcely draw
breath. And also they use to dip in the water all the other parts of
the body, the head only excepted; They heat water, saies _Sam. Rheen_,
in a Caldron, and in that they set the infant streight up to his neck,
but they let no water come upon his head, before such time as he is
baptized by the Priest. The newborn Babe is instantly wrapped up in an
Hares skin, instead of linnen swadling clothes.
The woman lying in, hath her peculiar place assigned her in the hut
where she lodges, till she recover her health. And it is just by the
door usually on the left hand: there is no other reason given for it
then that this part of the hut is less frequently disturb’d by company,
and there they have all things needfull for them administred. Tho this
seldom resort thither be rather, by reason of the womans lying in
in that place, either because they would not disturb her with their
company, or, which I rather suppose, because they look upon her at
that time as unclean. But the women of _Lapland_ seldom keep their
beds long after their delivery, and in that while are extraordinary
carefull touching the Baptism of their Infants: for after they began
more diligently to be instructed in the Christian Religion, they take
the greatest pains imaginable to have their Children baptized as soon
as possibly may be. In former times it was otherwise, most of them
then were baptized very late, and at their mature age; some deferred
it for altogether. Of this _Gustavus_ the first is a witness, in his
Charter, the words whereof I have cited elsewhere. As touching the
former _Gustavus Adolphus_ in an other Charter and Preface, premised to
that which he published _Anno_ 1634, in which the State of the Religion
in _Lapland_ is declared at large; Baptism, saies he, is administred
indeed to them but only at Winter, if their young children can live
till then, it is well; if not, they die without Baptism. Some of their
children come to years of Discretion before it, so that with those that
are grown up, there is no small paines to be taken when they are to be
baptized. The time of Baptism being the Winter time, was because they
have Sermons then preached to them, and the Sacrament administred,
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