cation of this fact, which produced the greatest excitement
throughout the North, took place in Kautokeino four years ago. Through
the preaching of Lestadius and other fanatical missionaries, a spiritual
epidemic, manifesting itself in the form of visions, trances, and
angelic possessions, broke out among the Lapps. It infected the whole
country, and gave rise to numerous disturbances and difficulties in
Kautokeino. It was no unusual thing for one of the congregation to arise
during church service, declare that he was inspired by the Holy Ghost,
and call upon those present to listen to his revelations. The former
Lansman arrested the most prominent of the offenders, and punished them
with fine and imprisonment. This begat feelings of hatred on the part of
the fanatics, which soon ripened into a conspiracy. The plot was matured
during the summer months, when the Lapps descended towards the Norwegian
coast with their herds of reindeer.

I have the account of what followed from the lips of Pastor Hvoslef, who
was then stationed here, and was also one of the victims of their
resentment. Early one morning in October, when the inhabitants were
returning from their summer wanderings, he was startled by the
appearance of the resident merchant's wife, who rushed into his house in
a frantic state, declaring that her husband was murdered. He fancied
that the woman was bewildered by some sudden fright, and, in order to
quiet her, walked over to the merchant's house. Here he found the
unfortunate man lying dead upon the floor, while a band of about thirty
Lapps, headed by the principal fanatics, were forcing the house of the
Lansman, whom they immediately dispatched with their knives and clubs.
They then seized the pastor and his wife, beat them severely with
birch-sticks, and threatened them with death unless they would
acknowledge the divine mission of the so-called prophets.

The greater part of the day passed in uncertainty and terror, but
towards evening appeared a crowd of friendly Lapps from the neighbouring
villages, who, after having received information, through fugitives, of
what had happened, armed themselves and marched to the rescue. A fight
ensued, in which the conspirators were beaten, and the prisoners
delivered out of their hands. The friendly Lapps, unable to take charge
of all the criminals, and fearful lest some of them might escape during
the night, adopted the alternative of beating every one of them so
thoro