Vierailulla Ahvenanmaalla 1850-luvun alussa

Yllä Kökarin kirkko ruotsalaisen muinaismuistopuljun Flickr-kokoelmasta.

Kirjassaan The neighbours of Russia, and history of the present war to the siege of Sebastopol (1854) John Reynell Morell viittaa X. Marmierin matkaselostuksiin. Niitä voi lukea alkukielellä kirjasta Lettres sur la Russie, la Finlande et la Pologne, mutta, koska ranskankielen taitoni on heikompi kuin englannin ja epäilen saman koskevan myös keskivertoa blogini lukijaa, en yrittänyt siihen tutustua. [Lisäys 21.5.2023: Marmierin matka ajoittuu vuosiiin 1839-1846. Alla oleva jakso on hänen tekstiään.]

Morellilta lainaan kuvauksen pistäytymisestä ahvenanmaalaiseen kotiin. Lähinnä siksi, että siinä on herkullinen kansalaisuuskommentti.

I entered a peasant's cottage, of a very poor but cleanly appearance, the floors of which were strewed with sprigs of fir, and furnished with a few deal chairs. At the bottom of an alcove was a bed, covered with snowy-white sheets; and the walls were adorned with some rude paintings, daubed with red ochre and carmine, and representing the two popular heroes. Napoleon and Charles XII. I was ushered into this humble abode by the peasant in the most respectful manner, and whilst his wife went to fetch me a glass of milk, I chatted with him, and asked him if he was of Finnic origin. "No," he replied, with evident pride; "I am the son of Swedish parents."

This feeling of national superiority is very remarkable, appearing even in the most destitute class. The most numerous population in Finland is the Finnic; and Finland no longer belongs to Sweden, which is not likely to recover it, save by a prodigious revolution in diplomacy. Yet the Swedes scattered in Finland remember their glorious ancestry, and are proud of their name.

This worthy peasant told me the simple and touching story of his quiet and obscure existence, presenting one of those tranquil, peaceful pictures of human life, lost like a drop in the ocean of time. His ancestors had come into the Archipelago long before; they had cut down some of the wood, cleared some land, ana built a dwelling. As for himself, he had inherited a field of barley and potatoes; he had married a neighbour's daughter, who also brought him a little patrimony ; "and the sea is close at hand," he added, "that is one great resource and fortune. I have a good boat, and three stout lads who fear neither winds nor rocks."

Fredrik Vilhelm Radloffin kirja Beskrifning ofver Åland löytyy verkosta Googlen digitoimana. Lisää digitoituja kirjoja on Maarianhaminan kirjaston sivulla. Verkossa myös Charta öfver Åland vuodelta 1739 ja Charta öfver Åland vuodelta 1789. Ahvenanmaalaisia puumerkkejä on mukana Tuve Skånbergin väitöstutkimuksessa Glömda gudstecken. Från fornkyrklig dopliturgi till allmogens bomärken.
Alla kuva Lemböten kappelin rauniosta Kyläkirjaston Kuvalehden B-sarjan numerosta 1/1888.