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At the northern extremity of this kingdom and of Europe, dwells a people, which, from the earliest ages, have differed from the other inhabitants of Scandinavia, in figure, manners, and language. This nation, known by the name of Finns, or Laplanders, not only possess the northern parts of Norway, but also vast countries in Muscovy and Sweden. They are a coarse and savage race of men, yet by no means barbarous, if we understand by this word mischievous and cruel. Such of them as live upon the sea-coasts support themselves by fishing, and by a traffic they carry on with a sort of little barks, which they make and sell to the Norwegians. The rest wander up and down in the mountains without any fixed habitation, and gain a scanty subsistence by hunting, by their pelteries, and their rain-deer. Such of them as are neighbours to the Norwegians have embraced christianity, and are somewhat civilized by their commerce with that people. The rest live still in ignorance, not knowing so much as the names of the other nations of the world; preserved by their poverty and their climate from the evils which disturb the enjoyments of more opulent countries. Their whole religion consists in some confused notions of an invisible and tremendous being: and a few superstitious ceremonies compose their worship. They have no laws, and
