I am speaking now of the strong trait in the national character as it shows itself in the more conspicuous natures, and would not be misunderstood to mean that men of character are not to be found in Nordland too--many a time, perhaps oftener than elsewhere, they are hardened into something grand.
In a native Nordland family there will generally be found--such, at least, is my belief--some drops of Fin blood.

It has been remarked elsewhere that in the Sagas, when the greatest peasant races in Halgoland were spoken of as descended from half-trolls, or mountain-ogres, this only meant Finnish descent.

Our royal families were of Finnish extraction, and Fin was a good-sounding name borne by the greatest men in the land--for instance, Fin Arnesen.

[One of Olaf the Holy's most trusted men.] Harald Haarfager and Erik Blodoexe both married Fin maidens.

The mystic sense-affecting influence which has been ascribed to them, was only the erotic expression of the great national connection between the two differently derived elements; the fair-haired, blue-eyed, larger-minded and quieter Norwegian, and the dark, brown-eyed Fin, quick of thought, rich in fancy, filled with the mysticism of nature, but down-trodden and weak in character.