term constantly
applied in the _Kalevala_ to anything dear or precious.

20. "Pohja, the North, or Pohjola, the North Land, is chiefly used
for the dark North, where the sun is hidden. Poetically used for a
homestead in the _Kalevala_. Occasionally it is used as synonymous
with Lapland." (K. K.)

21. When singing to the accompaniment of a harp, two Finns clasp their
hands together, and sway backwards and forwards, in the manner described
in the text. Compare Acerbi's _Travels to the North Cape_, I.,
chaps. xx. and xxiii., and the illustration opposite his Vol. I., p.
226.

61. Probably the honey of humble-bees (_Bombus_) is here meant, or
the expression may be merely figurative.

63, 64. The metre allows the translation of the names of the cows to
be inserted here.

110. Ilmatar, the Daughter of the Air; --tar is the usual feminine
suffix in Finnish, and is generally to be understood to mean "daughter
of ----." In the following passages we have the combined Finnish version
of the widespread cosmogonical myths of the Divine Spirit brooding
over the waters of Chaos; and the Mundane Egg. In the First Recension
of the _Kalevala_ however, and in many Finnish ballads, an eagle is
said to have built her nest on the knees of Vainamoinen after he was
thrown into the sea by the Laplander, and the Creation-Myth is thus
transferred to him.

229-244. In the Scandinavian Mythology the world was created in
a similar manner by Othin and his brothers from the body of the giant
Ymir.

289. Vaka vanha Vainamoinen--these are the usual epithets applied
to Vainamoinen in the Kalevala. "Vanha" means old; "vaka" is
variously interpreted: I have used "steadfast" by Prof. Krohn's
advice, though I think "lusty" might be a better rendering.

320. The ring-finger is usually called the "nameless finger" in
Finnish.

RUNO II

27. The Bird Cherry (_Prunus Padus_).

29. The Mountain Ash, or Rowan Tree, is a sacred tree in Finland,
as in Scotland.

83. The Great Oak-tree is a favourite subject in Finnish and Esthonian
ballads.

117. Finnish, and Esthonian water-heroes are sometimes described as
entirely composed of copper.

211. Compare the account of the breaking up of the Sampo, and the
dispersal of its fragments, in Runo XLIII.

245. The summer ermine is the stoat, which turns white in winter in
the North, when it becomes the ermine. The squirrel also turns grey
in the North in winter.

376. The cuckoo is regarded as a bird