Lapland is a region of Finland encompassing the northernmost portion of the nation. In Swift's "A Modest Proposal," he lists a myriad of possible solutions to the issue of poverty in Ireland, all of which fall short of the baby-eating scheme. One of these possible "expedients" is "learning to Love our Country, wherein we differ even from Laplanders, and the Inhabitants of Topinamboo." Both the Laplanders and the people of Topinamboo were understood by Swift to be "uncivilized," which, in his eyes, made the lack of patriotism and dedication for Ireland particularly deficient.