CHAP. XXXIV.Of their Rivers.
Lapland if any Country is well watered with springs and rivers: the most noted are those from whence the particular marches and regions have their names, asUmeao,Pitheao,Luhleao,Torneao, andKimeao, these spring from theNorwaymountains, and are encreased by several less rivers, unburdening themselves at last into theBothnickSea.VindelafillsUmeaoandSkielleflePitheao,Luhleaoswallows a less river of the same name, andKimeaois encreased byAvilaiocki, which it self is no small river, for there are numberless rivulets which run into it. SoLuhleaowhich has a double stream, the lesser receivesPyrrijaus Kardijoch, and it is the same case with the greater calledStoor-Luhleao, andTornæowhich is filled with the riverKæungemæ Tængeleaoand others. And so it is with all the great rivers, which upon that account are so impetuous and big, that they yield to few in the world: and because they run through hilly and uneven Countrys, and are stopt by several dams & weares, they force their way over precipices, with a great noise, and in those places are not navigable. Such is the sluce atLughlens, calledMuskaumokke, and another namedSao, likewiseNiometsaskii. e. an Hares leap, so called because the riverLughlaruns between two mountains so near that an Hare may leap over.
The likeCataractsare found atTorna, the most remarkable is calledterraforsnear theNorwaymountains. NextCængerbrooks-forsthenLappia-fors, then three more meeting in an head called by one namePælloforser, nextKettille-forsand lastlyKukula-forsnearTorna. Although theseCataractsare a great hindrance to sailers, yet they are advantagious to the mettal-melters, and afford an incredible plenty of Fish. Besides these rivers there are abundance of pooles, so numerous that but few can be named, one isLulafræskbyLughla, by whichLughleaothe greater runs. NextLuggaandSabbaigall abounding with Salmons. By the lesserLughleaoareSaggatt,Ritfack,Pirrijaur,Skalka,Sittijock,waykijaur, andKarra-greenwhich exceeds them all, each affording plenty of Fish.Pithahas these remarkable ones near it,Hornafvandijaur,Arfussierf,Pieskejaur, but especiallyStoorafuanin which there are as many Ilands as daies in the year; but above allEnarefræsknearKimus.Wexioniussaith the Hills and Ilands in it are innumerable, and without an hyperbole, forTornæusaffirmes that never any inhabitant lived long enough to survey them all.
There be some Marshes, little but full of Fish, in that language calledSuinoi. e. holy, and they account it a sin to foul them. These marches have two Channels one above the Other: somtimes it happens that the fish leave the upper and retreat into the lower, upon which account the superstitious natives bring sacrifice to appease theDæmonof that marsh whom they suppose to be angry.