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290 TRAVELS
boats, go a-fifhing, frequently a-fowling, and in the fpring time ~
hunt the fquirrel, which they kill with a wooden arrow fhot from
a crofs-bow, as is reprefented in the plate.
This figure of the bow is accurately copied from the original,
which my friend Mr. Julin puchafed, and brought with him
when he returned from his excurfion into the interior of the go-
vernment of Uleaborg = it has a ftrong refemblance to thofe with
which the Dalicarlian mountaineers were armed before the time
of Guftavus Vafa. It is extremely heavy, and requires great
ftrength to bend it, even with the affiftance of a thong which the
Finlander carries about with him tied to his leather girdle. The
ancient ufages, ftill preferved in the country, are an inconteftable
proof of the fimplicity of the natives, and of the little knowledge
they have acauned of our modern inventions. Thefe ufages are,
however, worthy objects of the traveller’s attention, and are now
the more interefting, becaufe they are falling every day into obli-
vion, giving place to others of recent date.
In fhooting the fquirrel they employ, as hae been intimated, a
fort of blunt, pointlefs arrow, that they may kill the animal with-
out injuring the fkin: and what is deferving of being noticed,
they do not take aim as we commonly do, by bringing the handle
of the crofs bow near the eye, but fet it upon the belly; and yet
by this method, which appears fo awkward to us, they feldom or
never mifs hitting the object. ‘The arrow is too valuable to be
loft; for the moment it falls, it is picked up for another occafion. -
But the fpecies of hunting which fets the courage and enterprife
of
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