Now the _Laplanders_ have a peculiar way of pronouncing words, according to which it is impossible to express them in letters, for they do mouth out all their words, so that the vowels might be heard loud enough, but the other letters come very softly out; they do also quite cut off and drown the last syllables, especially of Nouns. Letters they neither have, nor ever had any, and in this they agree with their ancestors the _Finlander_: the Calendar which they use, is no other but the Swedish in _Runick_ letters. And this also, before they came to have commerce with the _Swedes_, and had learned of them the observation of Holy-daies, was never in use among them. _Johannes Buræus_ tells us that he heard from persons of good credit, of certain grave-stones and monuments, which had sometimes bin found in _Lapland_ (more whereof perhaps might be found) on which were engraved _Runick_ Characters. But suppose we this true, it is not, I hope, therefore necessary that we should conclude that these were formerly the letters of the _Laplanders_, to which indeed, as well themselves as their forefathers the _Finlanders_ are equally Strangers. But we have more reason to think that the _Swedes_ coming thither in ancient times, either by force of arms, or otherwise, inhabited there abouts, and left those stones. To this day both the _Laplander_ and _Finlander_ use the Latine letters; in the same Character the _Swedes_ and _Germans_ make them, altho the number of them that can read among them is but very small, and of them that can write, a great deal less, and are only such as they call great Scholars. Now this Speech being only used among the _Laplanders_, and there being none that desire to learn it but themselves, in all negotiations with others, they are forced to use the help of Interpreters, of whom upon this account there are great numbers, as I have formerly said: tho these Interpreters speak all Languages, but the _Finnonick_, very barbarously, which is also the fault of all _Laplanders_, who are very hardly brought to learn or pronounce any other Tongue, and much given to confound one with another. So that they which traffic in _Norway_, and border upon that Country, do in their speaking mingle together the Speech of the _Norwegians_ and _Swedes_, as for instance, _jeghkiæmi_, for _jag kom_, _jag gaong_, for _jag goar_. So for _hustro_, they say _koona_, for _min myssa_, _mitt hofwud_, &c. But of the Language of the _Laplanders_ let this suffice. CHAP. XVI. _Of the Houses of the_ Laplanders.