, 1877-08-24
Curious Customs of the Laplanders.

Curious Customs Of the Laplanders.
/ The Laplanders are very lean in flesh,
having thick heads. prominent foreheads,
hollow and blear eyes, short, fiat noses,
and wide mouths. They are swift of
foot and very strong, so that bow which
a Norwegian can scarcely half bend they
will draw to the full, the arrow reaching
to the head. The usual exercises are
running races and climbing inaccessible
rocks and high trees. Though pimble
and strong, they never walk upright, but
always STOPPING, habit they get by fire.
quenty sitting in their cottages on the
ground. Originally pagans, and most
superstitious, they have for some centu-
ries been Christians, and have produced
many eminent and intelligent men. The
manners and customs of the Laplanders
in regard to marriage are very peculiar
First they seek for maiden we'll stocked
with reindeer-which, incase of mar
riage,is secured to the child by her parents
and then comes the Offer Accom-
panied by his father and one or more
friends, who are to intercede for him, he
makes for the hut of his intended, and
waits at the door until he is summoned
His best man then addresses the father,
discloses his strong affection for his
daughter, and trusts he will give her in
charge to him. He styles him as the
high and mighty Father, the worshipful
Father (as if he were one of the Patri-
archs), the best and most illustrious
Father. He gives his consent. The low
ing couple then meet. Then come the
presents, the rarest deicacies that Lapland
atfords-reindeer tongue, beaver flesh, and
many other dainties. If she accepts the
presents the future marriage is arranged;
but if she rejects his suit she casts them
at his feet. The full appreciation of the
marriage and the celebration of the we'd
ding is often deferred for a considerable
time, which they employ in courting.
The object of giving time is to squeeze
the bridegroom to the fullest extent (that
is, for presents, etc. The day before
marriage the relations and friends of the
bride and bridegroom resort to the
brides hut to deliver their presents.
The bridegroom is bound to present the
father with a silver cup, kettle of cop
per or alchemy, bed, or at least hand
some bedding; the mother girdle of
silver, robe Of honor, which they call
vospi, wisk which they wear about their
neck, and which hangs down to their
breast, interaced with bosses of silver
called krake. In addition, he gives
presents to the brothers, to the brothers
cicf oil Ii - thnI
shape of silver spoons, silver bosses, and
other ornaments of silver, for each of
them must have present if he means to
obtain his bride. All things arranged,
they proceed to the church in the follow.
ing order, and are married according to the
Christian rite. The bride is led by two
men, her father and brother, if alive,
otherwise by two Of her nearest relations,
She is dragged to church by them, show
ing sadness and detection, and great un-
willingness and reluctaucy to her mar
riage. A wedding feast follows. Each
person invited contributes his share of
provisions. AT the feast table no peron
helps himself, but receives his meat from
the hand of Laplander. If the hut is
not large enough for the company, they
climb up to the roof of the hut, mostly
boys and girls, and from thence let down
fishingline and hook up the food. The
married couple must remain year in the
service of the father; they can then set up
for themselves. The father then bestows
upon his daughter the reindeer which are
her due, given to her in her younger
days, also furniture, and dowry of a
hundred or more reindeer. Then all their
relations return all the presents they have
made. The Lspps may be said to be in
the full sense of the word moral race.
They have no schoolmasters. The father
inStructs the boy, the mother the girl.
Soon after baptism they bestow on their
infant, if it be afemae, female reindeer,
and upon the horns they engrave her
name, so as to prevent all controversies
or quarrels. She receives another when
she cuts her first tooth, which they call
pannikeir-that is, tooth reindeer; and
he who first spies the tooth is entitled to
a reindeer calf. If the parents die, the
nearest relation becomes the guardian.-
Our Ooon FSresidc.
A POPULAR English non-conformist
minister was stopping with farmer in
Glasgow, while on visit to that citV,