The air of Lapland is cold, but fresh and clear, and consequently very wholesome, being
much purified by the winds which are here very frequent and violent.
It has been attested to me by eyewitnesses, that thereby there's a certain wind out of
the sea, which beginning to blow raises presently such thick and aren't clouds even in the
midst of summer, that they utterly hinder the sight, and in the winter drives the snow with
such force and quantity, that if any person be surprised abroad, he hath no other remedy
but to throw himself on the ground with some garment over him.
Suffering himself to be quite buried in snow till the storm is passed, which dawn, he rises
up, and but takes himself to the next cottage he can meet, all paths and roads being hidden
in the snow.
But the strongest and most irresistible winds are upon the mountains, where they throw down
all things they need with, and carry them away by their violence into far distant places,
where they are never seen or heard of afterwards.
Their only help against these is to convey themselves into dens and caves here is rain
as in other places.
And more, and sometimes less, but in the midst of summer, this is likewise the neighbouring
countries have very seldom any at all.
Snow they have more often, and so much that in the winter it covers all the country, of
which they make this advantage, that they can travel no more securely in the night.
But, for the light of the moon reflected from the snow, enlightens all the fears, that they
can discern and avoid any threats, precipices and wild beasts, that would otherwise annoy
them, so convenient are the ways for any journey.
Thus terrain deer will draw a greater load over the trodden snow, than a cart and ten
horses can in the fields at other times.
These snow's in same places, as on the tops of their highest hills, remain perpetually,
and are never melted by the strongest heat of the summer.
The upper part of Lapland there are mountains rising to such a vast height, that the snow
continues upon them summer and winter, and is never dissolved, but in other places the
land is every year overflown with floods of melted snow.
They have also very great frosts and mists, and good storeroom, which sometimes so thick
in the air, that the site is quite obstructed, and passengers can't distinguish one man
from another to salute or avoid him.
It is so extreme cold here in the winter, that he's not to be endured but by those
who have been brave up in it.
