That we may not yet leave the Public concerns of the _Laplanders_, of which we have treated, let us proceed in the next place to consider their Fairs and common Markets, in which what Customs they anciently used is not so well known. _Paulus Jovius_ saies that among the _Laplanders_ he that had any thing to sell, after he had exposed his Wares, went his way and left them, and that the Chapman coming, and taking what was for his turn, left in the place the full value thereof in white furrs or skins. The reason why they did not speak and bargain with their Chapmen, he saies was, because they were a rustic People, extreamly fearful, and ready to run away from the very sight of a ship, or stranger. Others, that are of a more probable opinion, confess indeed that they used no words in their trading, but that it was not out of rusticity, want of cunning, or the like; but because they had a language quite different from others, and so peculiar to themselves, that they could neither understand, nor be understood of their neighbours: so that it was rather the barbarism, and roughness of their speech, then manners, that made them use this dumb way of traffiking. But of their language we shall treat in its proper place. Concerning their trading with their neighbours, it is most certain that it was performed without words, by nods and silent gestures: neither was it properly a buying and selling (for they did not of old use either gold or silver) but rather an exchange of one commodity for another. So that whereas _Zieglerus_ tells us they did _permutatione & pecunia commercia agere_, we may justly doubt whether it be not rather to be read _nec pecunia_, (unless happily he intend _pecunia_ in the primary sense, and hath more respect to the original of the word, then to the acception now in use.) And truly this way of exchange among them, in those ancient times, was no less then necessary; when indeed, as well the neighbouring Countries, as the _Laplanders_ were quite strangers to any current mony; and this we may understand from the _Swedes_, among whom there were in those daies either no coins at all; or else only such as had bin transported out of _England_ and _Scotland_, the use of the Mint being then utterly unknown in that Country. And if at that time there was no mony in _Swedland_, it is certainly no great wonder there should be none in _Lapland_. But neither in after times, and when they were under the Jurisdiction of the _Birkarli_, could the _Laplanders_ come to the use of mony; for they that were Lords over them, monopolizing the whole trade to themselves, did not give them mony for their commodities, but such other merchandise, as their Country stood in need of. In fine to this very day the _Laplanders_ know no other mony but the _Patacoon_ and half _Patacoon_; other coins whether of copper, silver, or gold, they do not so much value, which will give us to understand that the use of