ftation beneath the pulpit, and when the minifter has pronounced
one fentence of his fermon he ftops, and the fchool-mafter repeats
it to the congregation, in. the language of Lapland. The effect
which the eloquence of the preacher, thus interrupted and mutilated,
muft have on his audience, it is not difficult to conceive. I
confefs I would have given, I know not how much, to have heard
this Laplander, and known what kind o f tranllation he made o f the
Danifli miillonary s fermons. As for the minifter, who underftood
not a word of what the fchool-mafter laid in his name to the people,
he prefumed it was all right, and went on without hefitation.
As it is the intereft of Denmark to extend its language over
thofe countries as much as poffible, a fchool-mafter was appointed
at Kautokeino for teaching Daniffi to his neighbours, and as many
as he could draw together to receive his inftru&ions. I t would
appear that this fchool-mafter had not greatly improved his manners
and addrefs, from his travels into Norway, if we were to judge
from his matrimonial connection. His wife was only three feet
and a half high, and indifputably the uglieft creature beyond the
polar circle: But on the other hand it ffiould feem, that he had
acquired from his poliihed neighbours of Norway the art of in-
iinuation, and fome knowledge in the fcience of gallantry. He
was able to gain the acquaintance and attachment of a young
girl in the parifh, who in a ffiort time thereafter found herfelf in
a condition that difcovered how much fhe had profited by the in-
ftructions of the fchool-mafter ; a circumftance which placed this
public functionary in an aukward fituation with regard both to
the
the relations of the damfel, and his own little wife. Thofe incidents,
however, are not regarded in the fame ferious light beyond,
as on this fide the polar circle. The matter was very amicably
fe ttled : the child died foon after it was born, and the fchool-
mafter’s wife felt more pride in her huiband’s fuccefsful courtfhip,
than mortification at his infidelity.
Before we leave Kautokeino, it may not be amifs to offer, for
the amufement of my readers, a few geographical and ftatiftical
obfervations on this part of the country. . In th e whole of the dif-
trift or parifh o f Kautokeino, which is twenty-five Norwegian
miles in length, and twelve in breadth,* there are but two places
occupied by fettled Laplanders, which amount together to no
more than twelve families. The reft are all of the fbepherd, or
vagrant kind, who cannot be accurately numbered, becaufe they
are conftantly in motion, and not attached to any particular fpot.
In 1756 they reckoned ninety diftinCl families ; but it is poffible
that fome of thefe families may alfo have been counted among
thofe of other diftriCts. Thefe wandering Laplanders inhabit
during winter the mountainous tra&s, and move from place to
place with their tents, and herds of rein-deer ; but in fummer
they draw towards the coaft for the benefit o f fifhing. At Kautokeino
there are fome very fine fields of meadow and arable land ;
the latter of which yield as much oats and barley as fupplies the
inhabitants for fix months. Horfes they have none : all journeys
are performed on foot or in boats in fummer, and during winter,
* A Norwegian mile is about eight Englifh miles.
in.