ABSTRACT
THIS variety in their dress and weapons shows how great a difference and distance exist between these territories, and the tongues, length of life, and activities of their peoples. The countries are many, great, and powerful, and include those of the Lapps, Russians, Swedes, Gotar, Varmlanders, Dalecarlians, Highlanders, 1 and Norwegians; their extent in length and breadth is greater than that of Italy, Spain, and France taken together, so that it was not unreasonable for Pliny, because of their undiscovered size, to call them a second world. 2 No wonder, then, that in this zone five languages should be spoken: that of the northern Lapps or Bothnians, that of the Muscovites or Russians, that of the Finns, that of the Swedes and Gotar, and that of the Germans. Now the lives of people in those cold regions extend up to a hundred and sixty years or more, and this occurs, too, in England and Scotland, where indeed the bishop, St David, lived till he was over a hundred and seventy. 3 The activity of these people, that is to say those who inhabit the northern wastes, is concentrated on hunting and fishing, and they live by bartering with the Muscovites. 4 The Finns (or Finnings) practise agriculture, fishing, and hewing wood, the Gotar and Swedes devote themselves to the same occupations, while the German immigrants pursue their trading in various goods and live by their profit, accepting the laws of the local people and importing everything which men can see pertains to a mellower sort of life, articles such as silk garments, cloth of gold, and different wines.
Names of regions
Second world
Length of life
Activities
Muscovites Finns
German immigrants
