_Of the_ Laplanders _Fairs, and Customs in Trading._
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
mony among them cannot be of any long date, for the _Patacoon_ is but
of later daies, and was never known before the discovery of the Mine in
the Vale of _Joachim_.
These _Patacoons_ they value singly at 2 onces of silver a piece,
whence it appears that as they had no other mony, so neither did this
pass currant among them, but only by weight, and as if it were in the
Mass: and I beleive was not at all in use, untill they were forced to
pay tribute in that kind, of which I have discoursed before, and shewed
that it was but of late instituted. But what _Damianus_ means by his
_permutatione tantum annonam & pecuniam acquirunt_, we cannot so easily
guess; for we do not say that men barter and deal by exchange when
mony is paid for a commodity: for to what end should those People seek
after getting mony, which was in use neither among themselves nor their
neighbours; so that perhaps here also we ought to read _nec pecuniam_,
and then the sense runs, that they were not so sollicitous in getting
mony, as in providing the more necessary things of life: altho neither
is that true which he delivers of their provisions, as will appear from
what follows.
But whatsoever _Damianus_ means, it is most certain that in all their
commerce they did but exchange one thing for another; and that to this
day the same custom remains among them, who are now concern’d for no
more mony then what is sufficient to pay their tribute. Only if there
is any commodity among them of great and extraordinary value, that
indeed is to be bought with mony.
Their custom is now, not as formerly, to bargain by signs and nods,
but either they use speech, (for there are many of them now that
are skilled in that of their neighbours) or Interpreters, of which
there are plenty enough among them. They with whom they trafic are
for the most part their neighbours, on the one side the _Swedes_
and _Norwegians_, on the other the _Finlanders_, _Russians_, and
_Moscovites_. Neither was it otherwise in old times, unless when they
were under the power of the _Birkarli_, who endeavouring to get all the
trade into their own hands, did more narrowly watch those that were
nighest _Sweden_, that so they might exclude all but themselves from
trafficking in any part of _Lapland_. The power that we read was given
the _Birkarli_ over the _Laplanders_ by _Ladulaus_ the great King, I
suppose, chiefly consisted in this; for the other speciall rights and
priviledges, which they and their ancestors for a long time possessed,
_Gustavus_ the first hath set down, as I have in another place declared.
And this we may also gather from the prohibition of _Charles_ the
ninth, denying the _Birkarli_ the priviledge of trafficking in
_Lapland_, as they had formerly done. The words of the injunction
published in the year 1602 are to this purpose; _And we do utterly
forbid the_ Birkarli _any more to trade for skins or other commodities,
as they have formerly used_. Before this time therefore they were
either the only, or chief Merchants in _Lapland_, whither when they had
brought their merchandise, they went round the Country purchasing all
the skins they could, of which afterwards they made great sums of mony.
And this they continually did till the time of _Gustavus_ the first,
when that priviledge began to be denyed them; by which they were grown
so rich and powerfull, and what is the common consequent thereof, proud
and haughty.
But neither could _Gustavus_ provide against all their arts and
evasions; for tho he took from them all power over the _Laplanders_,
yet they being better skilled in the commodities of the Country and
constitution of the People then others, did still, tho not so openly,
keep correspondence and trafic with them, till in the year 1602, in
the time of _Charles_ the ninth, they were forbid by the forementioned
injunction, at any time, or in any place, to hold any commerce with
them, and the monopoly of all skins was annext to the Crown; a certain
rate being set at which they were to be sold. The words of the Edict
are thus: “Whatsoever skins are found in _Lapland_, we do command and
enjoyn our Governors to buy up for our use, according to the statute
and rate in that case provided.” And this was also again enforced in
the year 1610, only in this there was a clause inserted, that the
skins of _Elkes_ should be brought into the Kings tresury _gratis_.
The clause runs thus: “And we do command all _Laplanders_ in our name
to bring to our Governors all saleable skins, for which they shall
return the worth in other commodities, as is by statute provided; but
the skins of _Elkes_ they shall seize upon for our use, not giving any
consideration for them; if any man shall take this beast, it shall be
lawfull for him to keep the flesh for his own private use, but the skin
shall belong to Us and our Crown.” But their trading is now grown more
general, and they have of late years learned to deal more freely and
openly with other Nations; for they that dwell among the mountains
that divide _Norway_ and _Swedland_, deal both with the _Norwegians_
and _Swedes_, and they that live more Northerly and Easterly with the
_Russians_ and _Finlanders_.
But I come to the commodities themselves, which _Jovius_ saies are
only white skins, or furrs, called _Ermines_. _Zieglerus_ reckons
fishes also, of which they have so great draughts, that they are forced
to keep them in trunks and ponds till they can transport them into
_Northbothnia_ and _Russia alba_. But there are several other sorts
of skins, which _Olaus Magnus_ comprehends under a more general term,
and calls _pelles pretiosas_. _Sam. Rheen_ gives us this catalogue of
them, the commodities of the _Laplanders_ are, Raindeers, skins of
Raindeers, skins of black, yellow, blew, white Foxes; skins of Otters,
of _Gluttons_, or Badgers, of Martins, of Beavers, of Squirrils, of
Wolves, and of Bears, Laplandish garments, Boots, shoes, Gloves,
dried Pike, and Cheeses of Rain-deers. With these commodities the
_Laplanders_ traffic for Silver, Patacoons, Wollen and linnen Cloth,
Copper, Alchimy, Salt, Corn, Bulls hides, Sulphur, Needles and Pins,
Knives, Spirit of Wine, and which is more strange for Tobacco, of which
as I said before they are great admirers.
Upon all these things as was but now declared, there was a certain
rate set by _Charles_ the ninth, according to which they were to
be bought up for the use of the Crown; and the same custom is so
far yet observed, that to this very day, with whomsoever they deal,
they have a certain estimate, whereby they prize both their own and
others commodities: the proportion of which rates is according to the
Patacoon, or which is the same thing with them, 2 ounces of silver. For
example, an ordinary Rain-deer they value at 2 Patacoons, or 4 ounces
of silver, the skin of a wild Rain-deer at one Patacoon and 1/2, or 3
ounces of silver; the skin of a tame male Rain-deer at one Patacoon,
but if castrated, at 1/4 of a Patacoon, and if a female at 1/2. So
likewise an ordinary Fox skin is worth a Patacoon, 40 gray colored
Squirril skins are valued at the same price, which number of those
skins they call _timber_. The skin of a Martin at the same price, 3
white Fox skins at the same price, a Bears skin is worth 2 Patacoons,
and a Wolves skin as much, an ordinary Laplandish garment, which they
call _Mudd_, is worth 3 Patacoons, a pair of Boots half a Patacoon, and
4 pair of shoes, 4 pair of gloves, and one pound of dried Pike, each of
them are valued at the same price.
Now on the other side, of the commodities for which they traffic, an
ell of ordinary cloth, commonly called _Silesian_ or _Tangermyndense_,
they esteem at the rate of a Patacoon, or 2 ounces of silver; 3 pound
of Copper at the same rate, and one tunn of Corn at 2 Patacoons and
1/2, or 5 ounces of silver, 2 pound of Salt at 1/2 of a Patacoon, 10
yards of course cloth, such as we call _home-spun_, and they call
_Waldmar_, is worth a Patacoon, a Can of spirit of Wine half as much;
but if they chance to light upon any commodities of a lower price,
they value them by gray colored Squirril skins, proceeding from one
to 10, which number of skins they call _Artog_, and value at 1/4 of a
Patacoon, and these are the commodities that drive the trade between
the _Swede_ and _Laplander_. But to those of _Norway_ they carry all
sorts of coverlets, made of the skins of Rain-deers, also the beasts
themselves, their skins and cheeses, and the feathers of Birds;
moreover those things for which they trade with the _Swedes_, are
Copper and Alchimy vessels, ordinary cloth woven by the Swedish Boors,
these they change for Bulls, and Cows, whose milk they live on in the
Summer, and on their flesh in the Winter, also for Goats and Sheep,
out of whose skins they make themselves coverlets, for silver, for the
skins of black Foxes, and Otters, for woollen blankets, and for fish,
which they sell again to the _Swedes_, as Herrings, dried Codfish,
Skails, and such like. _Johannes Tornæus_ comprehends them in a shorter
catalogue, the _Laplanders_, saies he, traffic with those with _Norway_
and _Bothnia_, Subjects of the Crown of _Sweden_, for ordinary woollen
cloth, linnen cloth of both sorts, as well the finest as coursest, for
corn, bread, brass, iron, and all sorts of Country utensils. But above
all things it was their chiefest care to get beasts out of _Norway_,
which in the Autumn, they used to Sacrifice to their Idols.
Whether there were anciently any set places or times in which they
did trade, I cannot certainly pronounce, tho _Olaus Magnus_, Lib. 4.
Cap. 5. seems to affirm it, and saies, there were certain set places,
some in open fields, and some upon the Ice, in which they did every
year keep their Fairs, and exhibit to the public view what they had
by their own industry gained, either at home or abroad. But for all
this he proceeds not to tell us where those Fairs were kept, or where
those places were. And _Charles_ the ninth forbidding the _Birkarli_
continually, and at all times to make their circuits round the Country,
did nevertheless appoint certain times and places, in which, as at
public Fairs, all traffic should be free and open as well to them as
others. The words of the Edict published in the year 1602 I will give
you, which run thus: “Wherefore seeing we have forbidden the _Birkarli_
to trade in _Lapland_, according to their old custom, and in manner
aforesaid, We do will and command to be appointed two Fairs every year
in every Province, one in the Winter, the other in the Summer, as it
shall seem most convenient, and We do will and command our Governors to
take care that certain fit places be looked out, in which these Fairs
may be kept, and to appoint set times, at which most conveniently as
well all _Laplanders_, _Birkarlians_, _Moscovites_, as others, may resort
unto them. Furthermore our Will and pleasure is, that each Fair last
for two or three weeks, during which time, it shall be lawfull for
every one to make such bargains as may be most for his own profit.
And we do also command our Governors, that certain Boothes and Sheds
be provided after the most convenient manner.” Now by all this it may
appear that in former times there were no such things either observed
or known, seeing the King here speaks of them as first instituted by
him; neither indeed in the Edict it self doth he set down any certain
time or place, but names them only as things intended, and which he
leaves to the discretion of his Governors, which also _Andr. Buræus_
seems to intimate was performed, when he saies that when they were to
pay their tribute, they were at a certain time and in certain places
gathered together, as into a _Store-house_, where those Merchants, we
before called _Birkarli_, exhibited their wares. But now he also leaves
us in the dark as to a certainty either of time or place, so that it
may seem these Fairs and constitutions did not find so good success as
it was hoped they would, untill at length the Queen _Christina_ taking
the business into consideration, brought it to greater perfection.
There is an Edict of hers, published in the year 1640, in which two
Fairs are appointed, one at _Arfwisjerf_ in _January_, the other at
_Arieplog_ to be kept in _February_. The words are to this purpose:
“Furthermore We have given and granted, and by these presents do give
and grant 2 solemn Fairs, one at _Arfwisjerf_ on the Feast of the
Conversion of S. _Paul_, being the 25 of _Jan._ the other at _Arieplog_
on the Feast of the Purification of the B. V. _Mary_, being the 2^d
of _February_, each to be held for 3 daies, at which times it shall
be lawfull for the _Pithenses_ and all _Laplanders_ to exercise all
sorts of traffic, and these Fairs shall first be holden the next year
1641.” From this time they began to be more diligently observed, and
are kept upon those Feasts to this very day, for in all Provinces
there are every Spring 3 Fairs kept; the first in _Lapmarkia Umensis_
upon the Feast of the _Epiphany_, the 2^d in _Lapmarkia Luhlensis_
on the Conversion of S. _Paul_, the last in _Lapmarkia Pithensis_,
_Tornensis_, and _Kimensis_ on the Feast of the _Purification_. These
are the Fairs which _Christina_ instituted, only that in _Umensis_ I
beleive was observed from the time of _Charles_ the ninth, and the
rather because that _Lapmark_ is nighest _Swedland_. Into _Norway_
they resort and keep Fairs twice a year, the first at Midsummer on the
Feast of S. _John_, the other in the Autumn on the Feast of _Simon_ and
_Jude_, or _All-Saints_ day. And so much for the times and places of
their Fairs.
As for their way of dealing they were of old in all their bargains
very faithfull and just, tho _Damianus à Goes_ seems to note some
craftiness in them, and saies they were very cunning in all their
tradings. And _Sam. Rheen_ in plain terms call them cheats, and saies
they were so deceitful, that one that did not know all their tricks,
could hardly escape being over-reached by them. So that we may suppose
that as long as others dealt fairly with them, so long they were
trusty and faithfull, but in after times coming to learn how others
had served them, by understanding how they had been cheated formerly,
they themselves learned to deceive others. But of this we have spoken
before: and these thing may serve to give us some light into their
customs in trafficking.