Two redactions are preserved of a tract purporting to describe Sámi drums in general, but which clearly pertains only to South Sámi drums. Neither the date of its composition nor its authorship is known for certain, but it has a direct textual connection to several other tracts produced by Jens Kildal, his brother Sigvard and other missionaries and priests in the circle around Thomas von Westen in the 1720s.
A manuscript copy of the earliest redaction was sent to bishop Johan Ernst Gunnerus in Trondheim in 1759. It was made by the parish priest in Kvæfjord, Peder Leth, who was married to the daughter of Simon Kildal, another brother of Jens and Sigvard. On the cover sheet, Gunnerus himself describes the content as “Jens Kildal’s description of the Sámi drum”, but another hand has added “others claim that von Westen is the author”. This copy is bound in a miscellany volume in the Trondheim branch of the National Archives with the modern title Kirkehistoriske aktstykker (1600–1800).
A consciously revised redaction is found as part of a longer anonymous tract in the manuscript Thott 947 folio in the Royal Danish Library. This can be internally dated to between 1742 and 1761, as “the year 1741” is mentioned in the past tense, and another reference is to “about 30 years ago, in the time of bishop Krog” (who died in 1731). It is divided into two entirely unrelated parts with the whole titled Om Lappernis Væsen i Levemåde og Afguds Dyrckelse i Nordlandene fra forrige Tiider. The first part has the subtitle Om Lappernis Væsen; the second part has no subtitle but begins Hvad angaar Lappernes afgudiske Væsen. The latter parts consists of the tract in question with three preceding and one following paragraph with little connection to the main tract in style or content. Both the title and the introductory text reflect a conscious misrepresentation common in the material from von Westen’s circle. They consistently ascribe the material to Northern Norway, even Finnmark proper, when it in reality stems from Central Norway (Trøndelag county and the southernmost part of Nordland).
The text of this redaction also adds some material within the tract itself. In contrast, this seems well integrated, and might stem from the original author or somebody working in the same context. Unfortunately this fuller text is not suited as the basis for a translation, as it is marred by the editor’s mortal fear of catching heresy cooties – besides changing the text from present to past tense, the phrase “in the opinion of the Sámi” which occurs twice in the original is inserted a further nine times, alongside other weasel words expressing distance to the content. This version also adds small illustrations representing the symbols on the drum and their approximate position, but these are clearly secondary and of no source value.
My transcription from Kirkehistoriske aktstykker | Normalised transcription from Thott 947 folio by Marie Krekling | |
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Rŭnbomen, |:ſaaſom det holdes for:| betÿder Othins Howed, den blew fordŭm efter gamle Folkes ſigende adſpŭrt og holden nær til øret, og blew ſaa hørt af den lÿdelig Swar. J wore Tider, end og for noget lang tiid ſiden, er ikke wed Røſt faaed Swar af Rŭnbommen, men wed en Rings bewegelße til den eller den Gŭds afmaling paa den, er i det der er blewed ſlaaed med en Ham̅er paa den, blewet et eller andet tilkiende giwet. J fordŭm tiid drak nøÿderne, det er de ſom Rŭnede, Lŭŭd, naar de ſkŭlle rŭŭne, men nŭ drikker de Brendewiin. naar Nøÿderne begÿnder deres Rŭnen, har de Folk hos ſig ſamlede hwilke hialp til Runingen med deres Gøgeſang, ſaadan Samling kaldes Nøyde Kionka. Nøyderne drikkendes da Brendewiin, giør ſig meget til gaar heftig omkring i tŭl paa Knærne, tager gloendes ild i Henderne, ſkiere paa den bare Haand med en ſkarp Kniw, og ſaa ſlaaes paa Rŭnbommen, da fornewnte Ring begiwer ſig hen til den Gŭds afmaling, ſom af følge om ham lowes offer bliwer hielp at haabe hos, ex. gra: om Rŭningen ſkeer for at faa et ßÿgt Men̅iſke til Liwet igien og Ringen begiwer ſig til Jabemeacha |:Dødens Moders afmaling:| da giwes dermed tilkiende, at ſaa fremt den Sÿge ſkal kom̅e til liwet igien da maa det ſkee wed offer til Jabmeacha, naar Nøÿden da lenge har holdet paa at rŭne med ſtoer iwer paa fornewnte maade, da falder hand død need til Jorden, ſaa at hand bliwer liggendes gandſke Aandeløs en halw Time i det ringeſte, eller og hen mod een Time, da hand i midlertid er Wandrendes og ned i Jabemeaimo |:de dødes Land for at faa wed wis accord om offer til Jabmeacha den ſÿges Siæl op af Jabmeajmo ſom troes at wære did needkom̅en, fra hwilket Stæd hŭn endelig maa reddes ſaa fremt den ſyge ſkal kom̅e til Liwet igien det gielder da endelig paa Nøÿdens Løfte om ſaa og ſaa ſtort offer til Siælens Løſning, Dog ŭndertiden og paa hans Geſwindighed, at faa dødningen ŭformerked, Siælen hen fra dem ſnapped. Og ald den tiid, Nÿden ligge[r] død, maa endelig en Qwindes Perſon iid[e]lig og hæftig gøŭge, een deel for at paamin[de] ham om hwad forretning han har i Jabemeaj[mo,] og een deel for at faa ham til liwet igien[,] og efterſom det er ſaa høÿt fornøden ŭafl[a]delig at Gøŭge paa iwrigſte maade, i m[e]dens Nøyden ligger død, da faar Hŭn bet[a]ling af Nøÿden for den̅e gøŭgen, men den Løn Nøÿden faar for ſin Tieniſt[e] er ikke liden; thi Lapperne ſÿnes, at det er billigt at giwe ham een god Løn for den Fare hand maa ŭdſtaa i Jabmeaj[mo,] men ſelw bekiender hand om ſig, at hand kŭ[nde] intet, war ikke hans Pasſe vare gŭli |:Hellig[e] Fields Fiſk, hwilken og er den ſom bewarer hans Liw, thi Nøÿden fører baade need i Jabmeajm[o] og op igien der af ſin Pasſe vare Gŭli |:Nøÿdernes wiſße Field ſom ere Hellige, hworaf de har deres Pasſe vare Olmaj Spirit: famil:, ſaa har de og der[es] Pasſe vare Gŭlj |:en Fugel der ſkal wære ſom en Ørn[:|] ſaaſom og deres Pasſe vare Lodde og Pasſe vare Serva. naar Pasſe vare Gŭlj da har ført Nøÿde[n] ŭſkad af Jabmeajmo og ind i ſit Legeme igi[en,] da begynder det at røre ſig, og bliwer da forte[lt] af Nøÿden hwordan hans Reiſe afgik, og hwor ſtort et offer hand maatte ŭdlowe til Jabmeacha, førend han fik den ſÿges Siæl fr[a] hende. |
Runebommen (saasom det holdes for) skall betyde Odins Hoved. Den blefv fordum effter gamle folckes sigelse adspurt og holden nær til øret, og skulde været saa hørt af den et lydeligt svar. I vore Tiider, end og for noget lang tiid siden, skall iche ved Røst være faaet svar af Runebommen, men ved een Rings bevegelse og henstødelse til den eller den Guds afmaaling paa den, i det der er blefvet slaaet med een saadan beenhammer paa Runebommen, er der blevet et eller andet tilkiendegivet. I fordum tiid drack Noyderne (Runemænderne) Luud naar de skulle Rune, men i de sidste tiider Brændeviin. Naar noyderne begyndte deres Runen, havde de folck hos sig samlede, hvilcke hielpe til Runingen med deres saa kaldede giønge Sang, saadan samling kaldtes Noyde-Kionka. Noyden drickendes da brændeviin, giorde sig meget til, løb omkring i tull paa Knæerne, tog gloendes ild i Hænderne, skar paa den bare haand med een skarp Knifv, og saa slog paa Runebommen, da fornefnte Ring begafv sig hen til den Guds afmaaling, som, af følge om ham lovtes offer, blev hielp at haabe hos, ex: gr: Om Runingen skeede for at faae et sygt Menniske til Livet igien, og Ringen begav sig til Jabmeokkas (Dødens Moders) Afmaling, da gaves der med tilkiende, at saa fremt den syge skulle komme til Livet igien, da maatte det skee ved offer til Jabmeokka. Naar Noyden da lenge hafde holdet paa at rune med stor iver paa fornefnte maade, da falt hand død ned til Jorden, saa at hand blefv liggendes gandske aandeløs een half tiime i det ringeste, eller og hen mod een Tiime, da hand imidlertiid effter hans sigende skulde været vandrendes nedre i Jabmeoymo (dødningenes Land) for at faae ved viss accord om offer til Jabmeokka, den syges Siæl op af Jabmeoymo, som troedes at være did nedkommen, fra hvilcket sted hun endelig maatte ræddes, saa fremt den Syge skulle komme til Livet igien: Det galt da endelig paa Noydens løffte om saa og saa stort offer til Siælens Løsning, dog undertiiden og paa hans Gesvindighed at faae (Dødningene u-formercket) Siælen hen fra dem snappet. Og ald den tiid Noyden laae død, maatte absolute een Qvindes Persohn iidelig og hæftig giønge, eendeel for at paaminde ham om hvad forretning hand havde i Jabmeoymo, og eendeel for at faa ham til Livet igien. Og efftersom det var saa høyt fornøden u-afladelig at giønge paa ivrigste maade imedens Noyden laae død, da fich hun betaling af Noyden for denne Giøngen. Men den Løn Noyden fich for sin Tieniste, var iche liden, thi det hedte, at hand maatte have een god Løn, efftersom hand vofvede sit Liv i Jabmeoymo. Men self bekiendte hand om sig, at hand kunde intet, var iche hans Passevare gulj (Hellige fields Fisk) hvilcken og var den som bevarede hans Liv, thi Noyden foer baade need i Jabmeoymo, og op igien der af udj sin Passevare Gulj. I Noydernes visse Field, som de holdte hellige, hvoraf de hafde deres Passevare olmaj (Spiritus familiares) hafde de og denne deres Passevare gulj, saasom og deres Passevare lodde, og Passevare Sarva. Naar Passevare gulj da hafde ført Noyden u-skad af Jabmeoymo, og ind i sit Legem igien, da begyndte det at røre sig, og blefv da fortelt af Noyden hvordan hans Reyse afgick, og hvor stort et offer hand maatte udlove til Jabmeokka, førend hand fich den Syges Siæl fra hende. |
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De almindeligſte Guder af de[m]
ſom ſtaar afmaled paa Rŭnbom̅en er
Radien |:Werdens Mand:| den fornemſte, ſa[a]ſom
hand efter Lappernes meening er d[en]
fornemſte Aarſage til Menniſkens Forplantelſe[,]
thi Hand ſom boer oppe iblant Stiernerne ſend[er]
een Siæl need til Maderacha ſom boer ne[der]
ŭnder Lappe Gam̅en, den Hŭn igien lewe[rer]
til ſin Datter Saracha ſom ſkal ſkabe Kiød paa dem,
i Qwindens Liw til et Foſter, og ſaa giwe en god Barſelſeng.
Radien opholder og Werden at den ſkal
ikke needfalde, ſaaſom Hand og giwer Lÿkke til
Regn, Dene Gud, eller rettere at ſige Diewel,
er ſom Iŭpiter for Hedningene, den øwerſte
og ſtørſte Gŭd, og ſtaar derfor afmalet øwerſt
paa Rŭnbom̅en wed den Høÿre Side. Naar
Nøÿderne eller andre Lapper ofrer til Radien
da ſetter de wed hans offer en Støtte, hwormed
hand ſkal opſtøtte Werden, at den ſkal ikke
falde omkŭld, denne Støtte er hŭggen af
et Træ med en Kløft paa |
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De gienniste Guder af dem som ere afmalede paa Runebommen, er 1. Radien (Verdens Raadere) den fornemste, saasom hand effter Lappernes Meening, er den fornemste aarsag til Menniskens forplantning; thi hand, hvilcken boer oppe blant stiernene, sender een Siæl ned til Maderakka som boer neden under Lappernes Gammer, den hun igien leverer til sin datter Sarakka, som og boer under Lappernes Gammer, at hun skall lade voxe Kiød paa den i een Qvindes Liv til et Foster, og saa give een god barnefødsel. Radien effter deres Meening opholder og verden, at den skall iche nedfalde, ligesom hand og giver lycke til Reyn. Denne Gud er (som Jupiter for Hedningene saa og denne for Lapperne) den øverste Gud, og staar derfor afmalet øverst paa Runebommen ved den side deraf, som vender mod den høyre Haand. Naar Noyderne eller og andre Lapper offrede til Radien, da sette de ved hans Offer een støtte, hvormed hand skulle opstøtte Verden, at den skulle iche falde omkuld. Denne støtte hvorpaa var een Klyfft i den eene Ende, var af træe smugt huggen, og af den som ofrede blefv oversmurt af offre Creatuurets blod. Der opsattes og ved hans offer et træ som var ferskt og grønt opgravet med Roden saaledes, at toppen blev vent ned og Roden op, hvilket og blev besmurt med offre Creatuurets blod. |
Derneſt er den Gŭdinde Rananejd |:den grøn̅e Jomfrŭe een ſtoer og anſeelig Gŭdinde hos Lapperne, hwilken om Waaren giør Fieldene og Marken grøn med græs til næringsføde, Hun ſtaar afmalet paa Rŭnbom̅en neſt wed Radien paa den Rŭnbom̅ens Side ſom wender mod den wenſtre Haand, til den ende ofres og til denne Gŭdinde at Hŭn betids om Waaren ſkal lade woxe Græs. |
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2. Var den Gudinde Rananeid (den grønne Jomfrue) een stor Gudinde blant Lapperne, hvilcken om Vaaren effter deres Meening giorde Fieldene og Marcken bare for Snee og grønne med Græs til Reynens føde. Hun staar afmaalet paa Runebommen næst ved Radien, paa den Runebommens Siide, som vender mod den venstre haand. Til den Ende ofredes der og til denne Jomfrue, at hun i betiids om Vaaren skall lade voxe Græs til føde for Reenen. |
3 needen for Radien og Rananejd ſees paa Rŭnbom̅en Pasſevare olmaj |de Hellige Fields Mænd, Pasſevare Gŭlj de Hellige Fields Fiſk Pasſevare Lodde de Hellige Fields Fugel og Pasſevare Serva de Hellige Fields Oxe Reen, og endſkiønt det kand ſkie, at diſße ſtaar paa begge Sider af Rŭnbom̅en ſaa og mit paa den fra begge ſider at regne ſaa ſtaar de dog nermere til den Side af den ſom wender mod den Høÿre Haand. En Nøÿd har ſin Pasſevare olmaj for ſig Selw alleene, de ere hans Spir: Famil:; Pasſevare Gŭlj e[r] hans Hellige Fields Fiſk ſom wed hans foregaaen[de] Rŭnen og hendøelſe baade fører ham til og fra Jabmeajmo, ſaa og fører ham anden ſteds hen ſaaſom til frem̅ede Stæder for at berette for nogen hwordan der ſtaar til. Denne Nøÿde[ns] Pasſe vare Lodde og hans Pasſe vare Serva it ha[ns] Pasſe vare Gŭlj er ſaadant et Gan ſom han ſett[er] ŭd imod andre, end og mod andre Nøÿder at ſtride for ſig. paa den maade kand en Nøÿd bliwe beſtandig blant ſine Folk, og faa ſin Aarlige Nøÿde Løn af hwer Man[d] om hand er god for at ſtaa ſig mod andre[,] thi hwilken Nøÿde der befindes ſterkeſt, hand ŭ[d]welges af alle og giwes Aarlig Nøÿde Løn. En Nøÿd ſetter da ŭd mod en anden Nøÿ[d] fornemelig hans Pasſevare Serva, ſaaſom bla[ndt] alt det hand hawer er den ſterkeſte, og gaar d[a] Striden ſaaledes an, ŭt naar den eene Nøÿ[d] ſetter ßin Pasſevare Serva ŭd til Strid, d[a] møder den en anden Nøÿds Pasſe vare Se[rva] imod ham, og iŭſt det ſam̅e ſom ower gaar diſße ſtridende Serva, det owergaar Nøÿde[r]ne Selw, ſtanger den eenes Serva Hor[net] af den andens, da bliwer den Nøÿd ſÿg hwis Servas Horn blew afſtanget. Dræber den eene Serva den anden, da dør de[n] Nøÿd hwis Serva blew drebt, derfor ſkeer de[t] og at ſaa træt og ŭdmattet bliwer den Nøÿ[d] ſom hans ſtridende Serva, ŭdi ſlig ŭdmat[tel]ſe kand det ŭndertiden ſkie at der komer en Jomfrŭ af hans Spir: Famil: ſom giwer ham til Wederqwegelße af Pasſevare Kiodſe |:de[t] Hellige Fields Wand:| at drikke. Pasſevar[e] Gŭlj og Pasſevare Lodde ſettes og ŭd ſom et G[an] mod andre, men det er ikke af ſaadan Stÿrke ſaaſom Pasſevare Serva. Pasſevar[e] Olmaj er ikke egentlig ſaadane ſom han[d] ßender ŭd ſom et Gan, men de ere Nøÿd[en] tienſtagtige i at kom̅e til ham naar han[d] trenger til dem for at faa Raad hos dem. Endelig ſkeer det ŭndertiden, at naar Pasſe vare Olmaj ikke kom̅er ſtrax naar en Nøÿd giøger efter dem hand da maa giøge paa ſin Pasſevare Lodde af den Aarſage at hand ſkal flÿwe hen til det eller det hans Pasſevar[e] for at begiære at dets Olmaj wil kom̅e til ham[.] en Nøÿd hawer ikke gierne meere end 2 eller 3 Pasſevare, og hand kand da ŭndertiden hawe bedre Haab om hielp af det ene end af det andet, derfor naar hand gøger paa det ene hans Pasſevare at dets Olmaj eller Lodde ſkal kom̅e ham til Tieniſte eller Raadf[ø]ring men det bliwer ikke efterkom̅ed, da gøuger hand paa et hans andet Pasſevare men da kand hans Gøugen bliwe efterkom̅ed, i et af hans Pasſevare bor hans Serva, men hans Lodde boer ŭndertiden i ſamme Pasſevare ŭndertiden i et andet, ligedant hans Gŭli. Det kand og hende ſig at en Nøÿd kan[d] wære ſaa ſterk at hand har twende Serva, een af et hans Pasſevare og een af et andet, lige ſaa kand det hende ſig at han har twende Lodde, men naar det ſkeer at en Nøÿd har twende Serva da tør ingen anden Nøÿd prøwe paa at owerwinde ham for at kom̅e igien i hans Embede. Er da omtalt hwor Pasſevare Olmaj Gŭli Lodde og Serva ere afmalede paa Rŭnbommen, og her hos kand erindres at Pasſevare Selw paa een deel Rŭnbom̅er ere afmalede da findes det der, hwor om blew talt, hwor dets Olmaj Gŭlj Lodde og Serva findes, men paa den ſiide af Rŭnbom̅en ſom wender mod den wenſtre Haand. |
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3. Neden for Radien og Rananeid sees paa Runebommen Passevara Olmaj (de hellige Fields Mænd) Passevara Gulj (de hellige Fields fisk) Passevare lodde (de hellige Fields Fugl) og Passevare Sarva (de hellige Fields Oxe-Reen) og endskiønt det kand skee at disse staa paa begge sider af Runebommen, saa og mit paa den (fra begge sider at reigne) saa staar de dog gierne nærmest til den side deraf som vender mod den høyre Haand. Een Noyd hafde sine Passe vare Olmaj for sig self allene, de vare hans Spiritus familiares. Passe vare Gulj var hans fisk, som ved hands foregaaende Runen og hendødelse baade førte ham til og fra Jabme ajmo, saa og førte ham anden steds hen, saasom til fremmede stæder, for at berette for nogen hvordan der stoed til. Denne Noydens Passevare Gulj var og, saavelsom hans Passevare lodde, og hans Passevara Sarva, saadant et Gann som hand satte ud imod andre, end og mod andre Noyder til at stride for sig. Paa dend maade kunde een Noyd blive bestandig blant sit Folck, og faae sin aarlige Noyde-Løn af hver Mand, om hand var god for at staae sig mod andre Noyder; thi hvilcken Noyd der befindtes at være sterckest, hand udvelckedes af alle og belovedes aarlig Noyde-Løn. Een Noyd satte da ud mod een anden Noyd fornemmelig hans Passevare Sarva, saasom den, blant alt det hand havde at udsette, var den sterkeste, og gich da striden saaledes an, at naar den eene Noyd satte sin Passevare Sarva ud til striid, da mødte den anden Noyds Passevare Sarva imod ham, og just det samme som overgick disse stridende Sarva, det overgick Noyderne self. Stangede dend eene Sarva hornet af den anden, da blev den Noyd syg, hvis Sarvas horn blev afstanget. Dræbte den eene Sarva den anden, da dødde den Noyd hvis Sarva blev dræbt. Derfor skeede det og, at saa træt og udmattet som den stridende Sarva blev, saa træt og udmattet blev og den Noyd, som hand stridde for. Udj slig een udmattelse kunde det undertiiden skee, at der kom een Jomfrue af hans Spiritus familiares, som gafv ham til vederqvægelse af Passevare Kiadse (det hellige Fields vand) at dricke. Passevare Guli og Passevare lodde, som nefnt blev, sattes og ud som et Gann mod andre, men de vare iche af saadan een styrke som Passevare Sarva. Men Passevare olmaj var iche egentlig saadanne som een Noyd sente ud, som sin Gann, men de vare Noyden tienstagtige i at komme til ham naar hand giøngede paa dem, for at ville have Raad hos dem. Endelig skeede det undertiiden, at naar Passevare Olmaj iche kom strax, naar een Noyd giøngede paa dem, hand da maatte giønge paa sin Passevare lodde, i det indhold, at hand skulle flyve hen til det eller det hans Passevare eller hellige Field, for at begiære, at dets Olmaj ville komme til ham. Een Noyd hafde iche gierne mere end 2 eller 3 Passevare eller hellige Field, og hand kand da undertiiden have bedre haab om assistence af det eene, end af det andet; derfor naar hand giøngede paa det eene hans Passevare, at dets lodde eller og Olmaj skulle komme til tieniste eller og Raadføring for ham, men det blefv iche effterkommet, da giøngede hand paa et hans andet Passevare, hvorved hans giøngen blev effterkommet. I et af hans Passevare boede hans Sarva, men hans lodde boede undertiiden i samme Passevare, undertiiden i et andet, ligesaa hans Gulj. Det kunde og hende sig, at een Noyd kunde være saa sterck, at hand havde 2de Sarva, een af et hans Passevare, og een af et andet. Ligesaa kunde det hende sig at hand havde 2de lodde etc: Men naar det skeede, at een Noyd havde 2de Passevare Sarva, da torde ingen anden Noyd prøve paa, at overvinde ham for at komme igien i hans bestilling. Er da omtalt hvor Passevare Olmaj, Gulj, lodde, og Sarva ere afmalede paa Runebommen, og herhos kand erindres, at Passevare self paa eendeel Runebommer ere afmalede. |
4 er at merke at paa Rŭnbomen fra begge ßider at regne ſtaar Bejve |:Solen| afmaled, der ofris til Hende at Hŭn ſkal ſkin̅e wel. Og ſettes wed hendes offer Hende til ære en Ring pa[a] en Stikke, hwilken Ring er ſmukt giort af Træ og owerſmørres med offer Chreaturets Blod. |
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4de Mit paa Runebommen fra begge sider at reigne staar Beyve (Solen) afmaalet. Der offredes til hende, at hun skulle skinne vell, og sattes ved hendes offer, hende til ære, een Ring paa een sticke, af saadan figure, hvilcken Ring var smugt giort af Træ, og oversmurt af offre Creatuurets blod. |
5 er Horagelles Torden ſom og af een deel kalde[s] Paidolmaj afmaled lidt lenger need end Bejve, og lidt nermere end Hŭn til den Side af Rŭn­lbom̅en mod den Høÿre Haand. Denne Horagelles er efter Lappernes meening e[n] blaa klæd Mand, ſom ŭndertiden med ſine ſtoere Slag og Lynild giør dem forſkrækked, al[t]ſaa for at ſtille ham tilfreds naar hand tor[d]ner da lower de ham offer, hwilket Løfte de og ŭbrødelig holder og setter ham da til ære wed hans offer en Ham̅er hwilken er net ŭdſkaaren ſom og owerſmørres me[d] offer Chreaturets Blod. |
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5. Er Horagallis (Torden) afmalet litt lenger need end Beyve, og lit nærmere end hun, til den siide af Runebommen mod dend høyre Haand. Denne Horagallis var effter Lappernes meening een blaaklæd mand, som undertiden med sine store slag og Lynild giorde dem forskrecket, derfor, for at stille ham tilfreds, da lovedes ham offer, hvilcket løffte de og u-brødelig holdte, og sadte ham da til ære ved hans offer, een Hammer, som af Træe var smugt udskaaren, hvilchen de oversmurte med offre Creatuurets blod. |
Jkke langt fra ſees Biecholmaj Windmanden at wære afmaled dog paa een deel Rŭnbom̅er nermere wed den wenſtre Haand end paa andre, til den̅[e] Gŭd lower Lapperne offer, naar de af Stert og hordt Wejr er i Fare. |
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6. Iche langt fra Horagallis sees Biex olmaj (Vindmanden) at være afmalet, dog paa eendeel Runebommer nærmere mod den venstre haand, end paa andre. Til denne Gud lovte Lapperne offer, naar de af sterck og haard Vind og Veyr var udj Livsfare. |
7 er Leibolmai |:Brødmanden afmaled neden for Biecholmaj og paa den ſide af Rŭnbom̅en ſom wender mod den høÿre Haand, til denne Gŭd ofres for Lykke til Biørn og wed hans offer ſettes en Bøſſe ud af Træ ſom er net krinet og ŭdſkaaren ſom owerſmørres af offer Chreatŭret[s] Blod, naar en Nøÿd ſetter ßig for at gaa bort en dag i Skowen for at ſkyde Biørn, da ſlaar hand paa Rŭnbom̅en for at fornem̅e om hand den dag ſkal faa Lÿkke til Biørn, men ſaadan en Rŭning ſom kŭn ſkeer for een ringe ting, men ikke for et Men̅iſkes Liw at redde kand ſkie, endſkiønt Nøÿden hwerken har andre hos ſig ßamlede, eller falder til Jorden ſaa ſom død; naar Nøÿde[n] eller en anden Lap har haft den Lÿkke, at hand har faaed Biørn, da ſam̅en ſamler hand Mendſperßonerne ſom med dere[s] Gøuge Sang ſkal takke Lejbolmaj tillige med ham for den Lykke, men for den hellighed ſom er med Biørnen ere Qwindes Perſoner wanhellige mod ham, da werdiges de ikke at gaa ind ad den ſamme dør, hwor igiennem Biørnens Kiød bliwer baared, men de maa gaa ind bag i Lappe Hŭŭſet, hwor der obnes en liden Jndgang, ikke heller ere de werdige at tage til ſig af Biørne Kiødet for at æde det, men det bliwer dem af Mænds Perſonerne præſenteret paa en ſtikke op i Mŭnden. |
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7. Er Leybolmaj (Brødmanden) afmalet nedenfor Biexolmaj, og paa den side af Runebommen som vender mod den høyre haand. Til denne Gud offredes for Løcke til Biørn, og ved hans offer sattes een bysse udaf Træe, som var smugt crinit og udskaaren, hvilcken oversmurtes med ofre Creatuurets blod. Naar een Noyd satte sig een dag for at gaae hen i skougen, for at søge om at faae Biørn, da slog hand paa Runebommen, for at fornemme, om hand den dag skulle faae Lycke til Biørnen. Men saadan een Runing, som kun skeede for een ringe ting skyld, men iche for et Menniskes Liv at redde, kunde skee, endskiønt Noyden hvercken havde mange hos sig samlede, eller faldt til Jorden som død. Naar Noyden (eller een anden Lap) hafde hafft den lycke, at hand hafde faaet Biørn, da samlede hand Mænds Persohnerne, som med deres Giønge-Sang, skulle tacke Leybolmaj med ham for den lycke. Men for den Hellighed, som effter deris Meening var ved Biørnen, saa Qvindes Persohner holdtes vanhellige mod ham, da værdigedes de iche at gaae ind ad den samme Dør, hvorigiennem Biørne-Kiødet blefv baaret, men de maatte gaae ind bag i Lappehuuset, iche heller var de værdige at tage til sig af Biørne-Kiødet for at æde det, men det blefv dem af Mands Persohnerne præsenteret paa een sticke. |
8 Maderacha Saracha Jŭxacha og Uxacha |:Gŭdinder for Qwinderne ſtaa ſaa langt neder paa Rŭnbom̅en til begge dens Sider, ſaa der neden ŭnder er ikke ſtort rŭm igien tilbage til Gŭders Afmaling. Maderacha er Moder til Saracha og boer liigeſaa wel ſom Hŭn neden ŭnder Lappernes Gam̅e. Maderacha anammer Siælene owen af ŭd af Radien, den Hŭn owerlewerer til Saracha ſom ſkal owerklæde dem med kiød i moders liv til et Foſter og derpaa giwe en god Forløſning hwilket alt Hŭn efter Lappernes indbildning wel beſtiller, ſaa fremt Hende giwes wel offer, Den̅e Saracha holdtes og for at ſkal hielpe til en Qwindes Menstrŭa, hwilket alt dette og det forrige Hŭn ſkal wel beſtille ſaa fremt hende giwes wel offer. Uxacha ſom i liigemaade er Datter til Maderacha har den Beſtilling at naar Hende giwes wel offer da ſeer Hun til det fødde Barn, og wogter det naar det begÿnder at gaa fra ſtød og Fald. |
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8. Maderakka, Sarakka, Juxakka og Uxakka (Gudinder for Qvinder) staa saa langt neden paa Runebommen paa begge dends sider, saa der neden under er iche stort Rom igien tilbage til afguders Afmaling. Maderakka er effter Lappernes Meening Moder til Sarakka og boer, ligesaavel som hun, neden under Lappernes Gammer eller Hytte. Maderakka annammer Siælene ovenfra af Radien, dem hun overleverer til Sarakka, som skall overklæde dem med Kiød i Moders Liv til et foester, og derpaa give een god barnefødsel. Denne Sarakka holdes og for, at skall hielpe til een Qvindes Menstrua, hvilchet alt baade dette og det forrige, hun noch vel bestiller saa fremt hende gives vel offer. Juxakka som og er datter til Maderakka, har effter Lappernes Meening den bestilling, at naar een Fader gierne vil have Søn, iche daatter, da naar hand offrer til hende, saa forandrer hun datter til Søn i Moders Liv. Foruden dette, da tillader hun iche een Fader, at holde sin Søn til Skytterie, hvilchet er at give ham hen til Leybolmaj, saasom hand er Gud for Skytteri, og det af aarsag, at Leybolmaj er hendes fiende, saa hun derfor iche vil unde ham Sønnen, uden hun faaer Offer. — Uxakka som iligemaade er datter til Maderakka, har den bestilling, at naar hende gives vel offer, da seer hun vel till, det føde barn, og vogter det, naar det begynder at gaae, fra stød og fald. |
Jabmeacha Dødens Moder, ſtaar needen ŭnder fornewnte Qwinder paa Rŭnbom̅e[n.] Denne Gŭdinde wil baade Selv undertiden hawe Menniſker need til ſig til Iameaimo. Hŭn wil de ſkal døe at de kand kom̅e til Hende, ſaa og er[e] der Iamecudſer |:Dødninger i Jameajmo ſom wil hawe nogen af ſin Slægt fra dette Liv og need til ßig, hwor om de ſom ere af Dødningens Slægt faa underretning, ſaaſom Nøÿder wed Rŭnen[,] ſaa og baade Nøÿder og andre wed drøm̅e. |
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9. Jabmeokka (Dødens Moder) staar neden under fornefnte Gudjnder paa Runebommen. Denne Gudinde vill effter Lappernes Meening, baade self undertiden have Mennisker ned til sig til Jabmeoymo, hun vil de skall døe at de kand komme til hende, saa og ere der Jabme-Kudsen (Dødninge) i Jabmeoymo, som vill have nogen af sin slægt fra dette Liv, og ned til sig, hvorom Lapperne foregive at faae underretning, saasom Noyder ved Runen, saa og andre ved Drømme. |
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10. Allernederst paa Runebommen staar Rota. Denne boer i Rotoymo, som ligger effter Lappernes Meening langt dybere ned i Jorden end Jabmeoymo. Rota skall være saare ond, og naar hand med sær Sygdom plager nogle, da blive de gierne med offer til deres Guder frelste fra ham. Men skulle deres Guder iche kunde frelse dem fra hans plage, da nødes de til at give ham self offer, for at hand godvillig skall gaae fra dem, og saa nedgrave de een Hæst i Jorden, til den Ende, at hand paa den skall riide fra dem, og ned i Rotoymo. De Siæle som komme ned i Rotoymo, af aarsag, de iche har været deres Guder lydige, komme aldrig derfra igien, men de siæle, som af aarsag, de har lydet deres Guder komme i Jabmeoymo, komme effter een lang tiid derfra og op til Radien effter Lappernes Meening. Ligesaa holdte de for at Menniskenes Legeme stode aldrig op, saa de hvercken komme til Rotoymo eller Jabmeoymo, men det var kun Menniskens Siæle som komme til een af disse stæder, hvor der da blefv paa dem skabt et nyt Legeme. |
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Foranførte Gŭder hwilke ſees afmalede paa Rŭnbom̅en, da angaaende offer til Radien, Rananej[d,] Pasſevare, Bejve Horagelles Biecholmaj og Lejbolmaj, da ofres der gierne til dem en Oxe af Reen eller Fæe. med ofringen holdes ſaalede[s] at Finner eller Lapper tager deres bæſte Klæder pa[a,] gaar til Skows, og naar de ſkal ofre giøre de ſig ÿdmyge, tager deres Belter og henger dem ower deres Skŭldre krŭm̅er ſig og gaar med Staw[er,] gøŭger ÿdmygelig paa den Gŭd de wil ofre til at hand wil tage naadig imod ofret, og det de da af Oxe aflegger til offer er hans Jndwold[e] et ſtÿkke af Tŭngen et ſtÿkke af Lŭnge[n] et ſtykke af Hiertet, Hornene alle Been[e]ne hworaf intet Been maa brÿdes, til de[n] ende har de til et offer moltiid ſaa mange forſamlede at de kand æde Kiødet af alle Beenene, thi Beenene med det andet anam̅er Gŭden der ofres til ſaaſom et tie[n]ligt offer, thi hand ſkaber ßelv Kiød paa Beenene giwer Oxen Liw og har ſaa igien en fuldkom̅en Oxe. Den ſted hworpaa de legge[r] Offeret og ſetter fornewnte udſkaarne og krinede Træer, er enten wed et ſtort Træ eller Steen, men til Maderacha Sarach[a] Uxacha og Juxacha ofres gierne paa de[n] maade at der grawes need i Jorden til dem hwor de boe et Lewendes ſort Lam en Lewendes Kat, en Lewendes Griis, el[ler] og ſettes need til dem i en ŭŭr e[n] lewendes Hane hwor hand galer ßaa længe hand kand og ſaa døer af hŭng[er,] til Iameacha ofres enten paa ſam̅e maad[e] et Lewendes Chreatŭr eller paa ſaadan anden maade, ſom en Nøÿd kand foreſkriwe eller ſom en kand faa Kŭndſkab om ŭdi drøm̅e. |
Hvad offer angaar til alle djsse fornefnte Guder, hvilche sees afmalede paa Runebommen, da angaaende offer til Radien, Rananeyd, Passevare, Horagallis, Biexolmaj, og Leybolmaj, offrede Lapperne ydmygeligen til dem, thi de toge deres belter og hængte dem over deres skulder, krummede sig, gich med stave, giøngede ydmygelig paa den Gud de skulle offre til, at hand vilde tage vell imod offeret. Om det da var een Reen-Oxe eller een anden Oxe som een Lap offrede, da aflagde de til Guden et stycke af tungen, et stycke af Lungen, et støcke af hvert øre, fødderne, pudenda, noch alle beenene, hvoraf intet been maatte brydes. Till den Ende havde de til et offre Maaldtid saa mange folck samlet, at de kunde æde Kiødet af alle beenene; thi beenene med det andet annammede Guden der offredes till som et tienligt Offer, thi hand skabte self Kiød paa beenene, gav Oxen Liv, og havde saa i det Liv hvor hand var een fuldkommen levende Oxe effter Lappernes Meening. Den sted hvor paa de lagde offeret, og satte fornefnte udskaarne og crinede træer, var enten ved et stort træ eller steen. Men til Maderakka, Sarakka, Juxakka, og Uxakka, offredes gierne paa den maade, at der gravedes ned i Iorden til dem, hvor de boede et levendes sort Lam, een levendes Kat, een levendes Griis, eller og sattes til dem een levendes Hane i een saa kaldet Uur, hvor hand galede saa lenge hand kunde, og saa dødde af hunger. Til Jabmeokka, og ligesaa undertiiden til Rota, settes og paa samme maade et levendes Creatuur ned i Jorden. |
The translation is based on the older redaction, with material unique to the younger added in square brackets. I have separated the text into smaller paragraphs and rationalised the punctuation, but have retained the original’s random switching between past and present tense and other stylistic blemishes.
The Sámi drum (as it is held) symbolises the head of Othinn; it was in the past, according to the account of old people, asked and held close to the ear, and audible answer was heard from it. In our times, and even for quite a long time since, it has not by voice been received answers from the drum; but by a ring’s movement to this or that god’s depiction on it while it has been beaten with a hammer, things have been revealed.
In the past the noaidis, that is the ones who performed magic, drank lye when they were to perform it, but now they drink hard liquor. When the noaidis begin their performance, they have people gathered who helped them perform with their yoiking; such a gathering is called Noaidi Kionka. The noaidis then, drinking liquor, put on an act, walk frantically in circles on the knees, take burning fire in the hands, cut the bare hands with a sharp knife and then the drum is beaten. Then the mentioned ring moves to the depiction of that god, which as a result of a promise of a sacrifice one has hope of help from – e.g. if the magic is performed in order to bring a sick person back to life and the ring moves to the depiction of Jabemeacha, the mother of Death, then it is revealed that if the patient is to return to life it has to happen through a sacrifice to Jabemeacha.
When the noaidi for a long while has performed eagerly in the way mentioned, he falls down dead onto the ground, so that he remains lying quite without breath for half an hour at the least, and up to an hour. During this he is wandering down in Jabmeaimo (the land of the dead) in order to by firm agreement of sacrifice to Jabmeacha bring the soul of the patient up from Jabmeajmo, which is believed to have descended there, from which place it absolutely must be saved if the patient shall return to life. This depends fully on the noaidi’s promise of a so-and-so great sacrifice for the release of the soul, but sometimes also on his adroitness to undetected by the dead snatch the soul from them.
All the while the noaidi lies dead, a woman absolutely must continually and frantically yoik, partially to remind him of what business he has in Jabemeajmo, and partially to bring him back to life again. As it is so highly necessary continually to yoik in the most fervent way whilst the noaidi lies dead, she receives payment from the noaidi for this yoiking, but the wages the noaidi receives for his service are not small, because the Sámi find it fair to give him good wages for the danger he must endure in Jabmeajmo. But he professes of himself, that he could do nothing without his Passevare Gulj (fish of the holy mountains), which is that which preserves his life, as the noaidi goes both down into Jabmeajmo and up again by his Passevare Gulj. The noaidis have certain mountains that are holy, in which they have their Passevare Olmaj (spiritus familiares), likewise they also have their Passevare Gulj (a bird that is supposed to be like an eagle)¹, as also their Passevare Lodde and Passevare Serva. When Passevare Gulj has transported the noaidi unharmed from Jabmeajmo and back into his body, then it starts to move, and it is told by the noaidi how his journey went, and how great a sacrifice he had to promise to Jabmeacha before he received the patient’s soul from her.
The most common gods among those depicted on the drum is Radien (the world’s man) the foremost, such as he in the opinion of the Sámi is the first cause of the human procreation, because he, who lives up amongst the stars, sends a soul down to Maderacha who lives down under the Sámi hut. She in turn delivers it to her daughter Saracha who is to create flesh on it in the womb of the woman into a foetus, and then give a good childbirth.
Radien also upholds the world so that it shall not fall down, such as he also gives luck with rain. This god, or rather devil, is like Jupiter for the heathens, the supreme and greatest god, and is painted at the top of the drum, on the right-hand side.
When the noaidis or other Sámis sacrifice to Radien, they
place by his offering a pillar, with which he shall support the world,
so that it shall not fall over. This pillar is cut from a tree with a
cleft and by the noaidi or the one sacrificing
is smeared with the blood of the sacrificed animal. There is also placed
by his offering a tree that is fresh and green dug up with its roots, so
that its top is turned downwards and the root upwards, and is smeared by
the blood of the sacrificed animal.
Next is the goddess Rananejd (the green maid), a great and respectable goddess among the Sámis, who in the spring makes the mountains and the pastures green with grass for sustenance. She is painted on the drum next to Radien on the side of the drum that is towards the left hand. For this end it is also sacrificed to this goddess that she shall let the grass grow early in the spring.
Below Radien and Rananejd is seen on the drum Passevare Olmaj (the men of the holy mountains), Passevare Gulj (the fish of the holy mountains), Passevare Lodde (the bird of the holy mountains) and Passevare Serva (the reindeer ox of the holy mountains). And even though it can happen that these stand on both sides of the drum as well as in the middle counted from both sides, yet they stand closer to the side that is toward the right hand.
A noaidi has his Passevare Olmaj to himself alone, they are his spiritus familiares; Passevare Gulj is his fish of the holy mountains which by his previous magical performance and falling dead both brings him to and from Jabmeajmo, likewise also brings him elsewhere such as to faraway places in order to report to somebody how things are there. This noaidi’s Passevare Lodde and his Passevare Serva just like his Passevare Gulj is a magical weapon which he wields against others, even against other noaidis, to fight for him. In this way a noaidi can become powerful among his people, and receive his annual noaidi payment from enery man if he is competent to hold his place against others, as the noaidi who is found to be the strongest is chosen by everybody and given annual payment.
A noaidi then sends out against another noaidi primarily his Passevare Serva, which amongst all he has is the strongest, and the fight then proceeds in such a way, that when one of the noaidis sets his Passevare Serva out to fight, then the other noaidi’s Passevare Serva counters against it, and exactly the same that happens to these fighting Serva happens to the noaidis themselves. If either one’s Serva breaks the horn off the other’s, the the noaidi falls ill whose Serva’s horn was broken off. If either Serva kills the other, then the noaidi dies whos Serva was killed. Thus it also happens, that so tired and exhausted the noaidi gets as his fighting Serva. During such exhaustion it may sometimes happen that a maid from his spiritus familiares comes, who gives him for refreshment Passevare Kiodse (the water of the holy mountains) to drink. Passevare Gulj and Passevare Lodde are also wielded as magical weapons against others, but are not of the same strength as Passevare Serva. Passevare Olmaj are not properly of the kind that he wields as magical weapons, but they are duty-bound to the noaidi to come to him when he needs them to have advice from them.
Finally, it sometimes happens that when Passevare Olmaj do not come when the noaidi yoiks after them, he has to yoik for his Passevare Lodde for the purpose that it shall fly to this or that of his Passevare to request that its Olmaj shall come to him. A noaidi rarely has more than 2 or 3 Passevare, and he may then sometimes have better hope of help from one than from another. Therefore when he yoiks to one of his Passevare that its Olmaj or Lodde shall come to him for service or advice, but it is not obeyed, then he yoiks to another of his Passevare so that his yoiking may be obeyed. In one of his Passevare his Serva lives, but his Lodde sometimes lives in the same Passevare, sometimes in another, the same with his Gulj. It may also happen that a noaidi may be so strong that he has two Serva, one in one of his Passevare and one in another, likewise it may happen that he has two Lodde, but when it happens that a noaidi has two Serva, then no other noaidi dares try to overpower him in order to take over his position.
It is told where Passevare Olmaj, Gulj, Lodde and Serva are painted on the drum, and it can additionally be mentioned that Passevare itself are painted on some drums. Then it is found where it is told that its Olmaj, Gulj, Lodde and Serva are found, but on the side of the drum that is toward the left hand.
On [the middle of] the drum counted from both sides stands Bejve (the sun) depicted. It is sacrificed to her so that she shall shine well. And by her offering is set to her honour a ring on a stick; that ring is beautyfully made of wood and is smeared with the blood of the sacrificed animal.
is Horagelles (Thunder), which also by some is called Paidolmaj, depicted a little bit lower than Bejve, and a little bit closer than her to the side of the drum toward the right hand. This Horagelles is in the opinion of the Sámi a man clothed in blue, who sometimes with his great strikes and lightning terrifies them, therefore, in order to satisfy him when he is thundering, they promise him sacrifices, which promise they unwaveringly keep and set to his honour by his offering a hammer which is neatly carved which also is smeared with the blood of the sacrificed animal.
Not far away Biecholmaj (the wind man) is seen to be depicted, although on some drums closer to the left hand than on others. To this god the Sámis promise sacrifices when they are in danger from strong [winds] and harsh weather.
is Lejbolmaj (the bread man) depicted below Biecholmaj and on the side of the drum towards the right hand. To this god is sacrificed for luck in bear hunting, and by his offering is set a gun made of wood which is neatly ornamented and carved, which is smeared with the blood of the sacrificed animal.
When a noaidi decides one day to go into the forest in order to shoot a bear, he beats the drum in order to foresee if he is to have luck with bears on that day. Such a performance of magic that happens for a small thing, but not to save the life of a person, can happen even if the noaidi neither has gathered people around him nor falls like dead to the ground. When the noaidi or some other Sámi has had the luck that he has obtained a bear, he gathers all males who with their yoiking shall give thanks to Lejbolmaj together with him for this luck; but for the holiness that accompanies the bear, the females are sacrilegious against him, they are not held worthy to enter through the same door as where the bear’s meat is carried, but they must enter the Sámi house from the back where a small entrance is opened. Neither are they held worthy to help themselves to the bear’s meat to eat it, but it is given to them by the males presented on a stick into the mouth.
Maderacha, Saracha, Juxacha and Uxacha (goddesses of the women) are placed so far down on the drum at both its sides, so that there is not much room left below it for the depiction of gods. Maderacha is the mother of Saracha and like her lives underneath the hut of the Sámis. Maderacha receives the souls from above from Radien, which she passes on to Saracha who shall clothe them with flesh in the womb of the mother to an embryo, and thereafter grant a good childbirth, which she in the imagination of the Sámis well provides as long as she is given a good sacrifice. This Saracha was also held to be of assistance with a woman’s menstruation, all of which and the previous she shall well provide as long as she is given a good sacrifice.
[Juxacha who is also daughter of Maderacha has, in the opinion of the Sámis, the capacity, that when a father desires to have a son and not a daughter, then when he sacrifices to her, she changes daughter to son in the womb of the mother. Besides this, she does not allow a father to keep his son to shooting, for the reason that Lejbolmaj is her enemy, so for that reason she will not grant him the son, unless she receives a good sacrifice.]
Uxacha who likewise is daughter of Maderacha has the capacity that when she is given a good sacrifice she looks after the born child, and protects it from bumps and falls when it begins to walk.
Jabmeacha (the mother of death) is placed below the previously mentioned women on the drum. Both this goddess herself sometimes wishes people down to her to Jabmeajmo — she wishes them to die so that they may come to her — and also there are Jabmecudser (dead people) in Jabmeajmo who wants somebody of their own family from this life and down to themselves. About this those who are in the dead people’s family receives information, like noaidis by performing magic, so also both noaidis and others through dreams.
[At the very bottom of the drum stands Rota. This one lives in Rotajmo, which in the opinion of the Sámis lies far deeper into the earth than Jabmeajmo. Rota is supposed to be very evil, and when he torments somebody with a peculiar illness, they gladly sacrifice to their gods for deliverance from him. But should their gods not be able to deliver them from his torment, they are compelled to sacrifice to him, so that he voluntarily shall leave them, and so they bury a horse in the earth, for the purpose that he shall ride from them and down into Rotajmo. The souls who descend into Rotajmo for the reason that they have not been obedient to their gods never return from there, but the souls who because they have been obedient to their gods have entered Jabmeajmo do after a long time return up from there to Radien in the opinion of the Sámis. Likewise they hold that the body of a human never arose, so they never entered Rotajmo or Jabmeajmo, but that it only was the souls of humans who went to either of those places, where a new body was created on them.]
The aforementioned gods that are seen on the drum, regarding sacrifices to Radien, Rananejd, Passevare, Bejve, Horagelles, Biecholmaj and Lejbolmaj, then an ox of reindeer or cattle is usually sacrificed. The sacrifices are held in such a way that the Sámis put on their finest clothes, goes into the forest, and when they are to sacrifice, they make themselves humble, put their belts over their shoulders, bend over and walk with walking-sticks, yoik reverentially to the god they wish to sacrifice to that he will receive the offering graciously. What they from an ox submit as an offering is his entrails, a piece of the tongue, a piece of the lung, a piece of the heart, the horns, all the bones – of which no bone must be broken. To this end they have gathered so many to a sacrificial meal that they can eat the meat off the bones, as the bones with the other is taken by the god they sacrifice to as a serviceable offering, as he himself creates meat on the bones and gives life to the ox again and has received a perfect ox. The place on which they place the offering and place the aforementioned carved and decorated trees, is either by a great tree or rock, but to Maderacha, Saracha, Uxacha and Juxacha they often sacrifice in the manner that it is buried in the ground where they live a living black lamb, a living cat, a living pig, or set down to them in a scree a living rooster where he crows so long as he is able and then dies of hunger. To Jabmeacha [and likewise sometimes to Rota] it is either sacrificed in the same way a living animal or in such other way as a noaidi can prescribe or one may gain knowledge of in a dream.
¹) this parenthesis properly belongs to Passevare Lodde rather than to Passevare Gulj; it is not present in Thott 947 folio.
The illustrations in Thott 947 folio each consists of an ellipse representing the drum, and a vaguely humanoid figure placed in the position described in the text, but to a much larger scale that the drum outline. Below, I have placed all these figures on a single drum outline which is enlarged just enough to comfortably fit all figures. I have at the same time turned the very slanted figures upright, as it is obvious from the fact that the drum outlines also are slanted that they are not meant to be deformed in this way.
It is immediately claer that this does not resemble any authentic drum in the least. The description of the positions of the symbols are close enough to South Sámi drums that it is evident that they are based on this tradition, which alongside the Ume Sámi tradition also was the only tradition the circle around von Westen ever encountered. The style and orientation of the figures in contrast to this seem to be fantasy creations loosely based on the North Sámi drum of Anders Pålsson.