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THROUGH LAPLAND. 15
which diminifhes or even deftroys its attractions. The long con-
tinuance of the winter and its horrors; the oppreffive multitude
of tormenting infects in the fummer, would, in the Opinion of
moft men, counterbalance any advantages which the beauty of the
fituation, or the allurements of rural life, could prefent. But,
after all, where can the unhappy find peace and joy; what region
can fhelter him from the forrows that dwell in his wounded heart?
If content be not the inmate of his bofom, it is in vain to feek
for it in diftant countries: it isa phantom that will conftantly
elude his grafp. A change of climate cannot relieve the conflict
in his breaft ; and why fhould he fight without, fince the battle
rages within! Happinefs, like the fun’s rays, is difperfed over the
whole earth: it is diftributed, though with apparent inequality,
yet with impartial juftice. The Laplander is without night in
fummer; but he is alfo without day during his long winter. Na-
ture balances all things.
Muonionifca is a village compofed of fifteen or fixteen dwell-
ing-houfes, irregularly placed on the left bank of the river Muo-
nio. Eaftward it is bordered by a chain of mountains, of which
Mount Pallas and Keimio-tunduri are the moft confiderable ; to-
wards the north, and at a fhort diftance, the woods terminate
the view, which is the cafe alfo towards the weft and fouth, into
which quarter the river holds its courfe. Muonio is the name of
the river, wifca fignifies beginning ; and the village is fo called,
becaufe it isthe place where the river begins to affume a regular
form. At Muonionifca there is a church and a parfon, who, like
that
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