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)
of four footed Beasts, as wild Rain-deers, Bears, Stags, Wolves,
Gluttons, Beavers, Otters, Martins, Squirrels; but these Stags are but
few and little, such as they call _Damacervi_, or _Platicerotes_, which
since they have nothing peculiar from those in other nations, let it
suffice that they are named. To these I may add wild Rain-deers, but
because they differ from the tame ones only in bulk, being bigger,
and in color somewhat blacker, I will likewise pass them over. _Sam.
Rheen_ after the Stags mentions Wolves, of which there is a great
number, distinguisht from those in other Countries only by their color,
something whiter, whence they are often called white Wolves: their
hair is thicker, longer and rougher. These most of all molest the
Rain-deers, which are armed against them with their horn.
I find in some Papers of _Euræus_ that the Wolves did never assault
the Rain-deer if it was bound to a stake: the reason may be because
he fears some trap when he sees the rope that binds the Raindeer:
for the Wolf is a very suspicious creature, and thinks every thing
he sees to be a snare to catch him. Besides he may suspect that men
lie hidden to kill him, whereas the Rain-deers are only bound for the
better conveniency of milking them. Nevertheless, the Wolves venture
not only on Beasts, but on Men and Women, especially those that are big
with child. Travellers are forced to go armed, particularly Women near
their time, for the Wolves take their scent and watch more greedily
for them, therefore no Woman is permitted to travel without a guide
assisting her. The next are the Gluttons, which are frequent here,
they have a round head, strong and sharp teeth, like a Wolfs, a plump
body, and feet shorter than the Otters: their skin is of a very dark
color, some of them resemble Sables, only they have softer and finer
haire; this Beast lives not altogether on Land, but many times in the
Water, like the Otter, tho much bigger and stronger: some compare it
to the Otter, but it is far greedier than he, for thence it gets its
name. For _Olaus_ tells us that it is called by the _Swedes_, _Jerff_,
by the _Germans_, _Wildfras_: but this German name doth not denote the
Beast to eat much, but to devour what it finds in the Woods, for _wild_
signifies any thing in the Woods; wherefore either _Scaliger_ did not
understand the word, or else the Printer did not follow his copy: which
appears more plainely, from that the _Gulo_ doth not only infest wild
Beasts, but tame (as hath bin often known in _Swedland_) and Water
creatures too, being it self accustomed to the Waters.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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