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)
and that no oftner then twice; once about New-years-day, and againe
at Lady-day, of which I have treated in another place. Before these
times there was not so much done as that, but the _Laplanders_ were
fain to come with their Children to the neighbouring Churches of the
_Swedes_ in _Angermannia_ and _Bothnia_, of which _Olaus Magnus_ must
be understood to speak, when he saies Lib. 4. c. 17. Once or twice in
a year they visit the Baptismall Churches, and bring along with them
their sucking Babes in Baskets tied to their backs, to be baptized.
But at this day those women that are able, and not impeded by some
grievous sickness, carry their Children to the Priest themselves,
about a fourtnight after their delivery, that by him they may receive
Baptism. So much good hath building Churches in _Lapland_ done, and
having Sermons there, not in a strange Tongue, but the _Laplanders_
proper own: and so zealous are they for hastening their Childrens
Baptism, that the Mother scarce lying in above a week or fortnight,
after her delivery, will undertake a most tedious journy, over the tops
of Mountains, thorough wide Marshes and high Woods with her Infant to
the Priest; for the women of this Country are naturally hardy, and able
to endure any thing without trouble, and therefore, tho they feed upon
course food in their sicknesses, and drink nothing else but water,
yet they recover again quickly. They carry their young Infants to the
Priest, one way in the Summer time, and another way in the Winter. In
Winter they lay it upon a sledge. In Summer they put it in a Pannier
fastned to the back of a Rain-deer. The Infant is not set upon the back
of the Raindeer, but is tied in his cradle, and fastned to the pack
saddle after this fashion.
[Illustration]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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