s the frigid and the
torrid zone. Thus, also, notwithstanding physical signs which denote
more ardent animal passions than their neighbors, they are equally
chaste, and have as high a standard of sexual purity. Illegitimate
births are quite rare, and are looked upon as a lasting shame and
disgrace to both parties. The practice of "bundling" which, until
recently, was very common among Finnish lovers, very seldom led to such
results, and their marriage speedily removed the dishonour. Their
manners, socially, in this respect, are curiously contradictory. Thus,
while both sexes freely mingle in the bath, in a state of nature, while
the women unhesitatingly scrub, rub and dry their husbands, brothers or
male friends, while the salutation for both sexes is an embrace with the
right arm, a kiss is considered grossly immodest and improper. A Finnish
woman expressed the greatest astonishment and horror, at hearing from
Mr. Wolley that it was a very common thing in England for a husband and
wife to kiss each other. "If my husband were to attempt such a thing,"
said she, "I would beat him about the ears so that he would feel it for
a week." Yet in conversation they are very plain and unreserved, though
by no means gross. They acknowledge that such things as generation,
gestation and parturition exist, and it may be that this very absence of
mystery tends to keep chaste so excitable and imaginative a race.

Notwithstanding their superstition, their love of poetry, and the wild,
rich, musical character of their language, there is a singular absence
of legendary lore in this part of Finland. Perhaps this is owing to the
fact that their ancestors have emigrated hither, principally within the
last two centuries, from the early home of the race--Tavastland, the
shores of the Pajana Lake, and the Gulf of Finland. It is a difficult
matter to preserve family traditions among them, or even any extended
genealogical record, from the circumstance that a Finn takes his name,
not only from his father's surname, but from his residence. Thus, Isaaki
takes the name of "Anderinpoika" from his father Anderi, and adds
"Niemi," the local name of his habitation. His son Nils will be called
Nils Isakipoika, with the addition of the name of his residence,
wherever that may be; and his family name will be changed as often as
his house. There may be a dozen different names in the course of one
generation, and the list soon becomes too complicated and confu