Having given this account of the _Laplanders_ ill qualities, it will now be justice to recount their vertues, as first their veneration and due esteem of Marriage, which they more seldom violate, then many who pretend to be much better Christians. They also abhor theft; so that the Merchants only cover their goods so as to secure them against the weather, when they have occasion to leave them, and at their return are sure to find them safe, and untoucht; which is the more commendable, for that in _Lapland_ there are no Towns, or store-houses, and no man could be sure of any thing, if the People were inclined to thievery. They are likewise (those I mean of the better sort) charitable to the poor, not only by receiving those that are destitute into their Huts; but supplying them with stock whereon to live. In proof of this _Tornæus_ and _Sam. Rheen_, say that ’tis usual with them to lend _gratis_, for a considerable time, ten or twenty Rain-deers. Farther they are civil and hospitable to Strangers, whom they with much kindness invite to their Huts, and there treat with the best provisions they have. And of this there are severall instances, when any have happened to be cast upon their Coast by shipwrack, or else in the snow, or on the mountains have lost their way. Moreover they are thus far cleanly as often to wash their hands and face; tho notwithstanding _Tornæus_ tells us, they are nasty and scabby, and use not to comb their heads. Lastly they are sufficiently ingenious, making for themselves all sorts of tools and implements for their fishing and hunting; and also for severall manufactures, some of which they do very artificially, as shall be shewn hereafter in its proper place. CHAP. VI. _Of the Originall of the_ Laplanders. We have intimated our conjecture concerning the originall of the _Laps_, and more then that it will be hard to produce, there being no sober history which gives testimony in this affair. Negatively we may pass sentence, and conclude they were not _Swedes_, no People differing more both in constitution of body and mind, in language and habit, or whatever else is taken for a character of likeness, or having the same originall. Neither can any one think that they were ever _Russians_ or _Moscovites_; seeing they differ as much from them, as from the _Swedes_. The _Russians_ are generally tall, the _Laplanders_ on the contrary very short; those are fat and corpulent, these lean and slender; those have thick hair, long beards, and good complexions, these wear their hair short and thin, and are dark and swarthy. But most of all the language is different, in which the _Laps_ and _Russes_ have in a manner no kind of agreement. They must then come from their Neighbours, either the _Norwegians_ on the one side, or the _Finlanders_ upon the other. But they could not well be derived from _Norway_, who are known to have drawn their originall from the _Swedes_. [Illustration]