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156 REGNARD’S JOURNEY TO LAPLAND.
when taking leave of the widow, we were again obliged to drink to the memory of
the dead, and to do that which is called /ibare manibus.
We afterwards went to the dwelling of a perfon who was in our company ; his
mother received us with all poffible kindnefs ; and thefe people, who had never before
feen Frenchmen, did not know how to teltify the joy, which they felt at feeing us in
their country. .
On Tuefday, they brought us a quantity of furs, to fell; and of large coverings
furred with fkins of white hares, which they offered to difpofe of fora crown. They
alfo fhewed us drefles of the Lapponians, made of the fkins of. young rein-deer,
with their whole apptrtenances, boots, gloves, flippers, fafh, and bonnet. We went,
the fame day, tothe chace, around the houfe ; we found numbers of wild woodcocks,
and other animals unknown in our country ; and we were aftonifhed, that the inhabitants
whom we met with, were no lefs anxious to avoid us than the game.
On Wednefday, we received a vifit from the magiftrate and burgo-mafter, who
offered us their fervices in every thing which was in their power. After dinner, they
came to conduét us to their barks, and brought us to the prieft of the town, who is
fon-in-law of the deceafed Tornzus. ;
We now faw, for the firft time, a Lapland fledge, and admiredits ftru€ture. This
machine, which they call Pu/ea, is made like a {mall fhip-boat, raifed in front, for the
purpofe of more eafily keeping off the fnow. The prow confifts folely of a fingle
plank, and the body is compofed of feveral pieces of wood, fewed together with a large
thread of a rein-deer, without a fingle nail; this wood is joined to another piece in
front, which is very ftrong, and which extends over the whole length above, and by
going beyond the reft of the ftructure, ferves the fame purpofe with the keel of a thip.
It is upon this piece of wood, that the fledge runs; and as it is only about four fingers
breadth wide, it rolls conftantly from fide to fide; the traveller places himfelf in the
infide, as in_a coflin, where the half of his body is covered; there he is tied, and
rendered immoveable, with the exception of his hands, one of which is employed in
holding the reins, and ,the other fupports him, when in danger of falling. He is
obliged carefully to balance himfelf ; on which account, thofe who are unaccuftomed
to this mode of travelling are often in. danger of their lives, and chiefly when the
fledge defcends the fteepelt rocks, over which it flies with fuch horrible {wiftnefs, that
it is impoflible to conceive the rapidity of the motion, without having experienced it.
We fupped this evening in public with the burgo-mafter ; and the whole inhabitants
came in crowds to fee us eat. We poftponed our departure, till the next day; and
we took an interpreter. ,
On Thurfday the laft of July, we left Torno ina little Finland boat, made for the
purpofe of performing voyages here ; it is about twelve feet long, and three broad.
It is impofhible to fee any thing better or more lightly built, than this boat; and to
fuch a degree is this carried, that two or three men can eafily bear it, when they are
obliged to pafs’ the cataracts of the river, which are fo impetuous, as to roll down
{tones of an immenfe fize. We were obliged to walk on foot almoft all the reft of the
day, on account of the torrents which fell from the mountains, and of a boifterous wind
which forced the water into the boat in fuch quantities, that if it had not been immediatel
bailed out, the boat would foon have been filled. We went, along the banks of the
river, conftantly hunting ; and killed fome game; we were aftonifhed at the number ot
ducks, geefe, and water-fowl, and feveral other birds, which we met with at every
ftep. We did not to-day go fo far as we had intended, in confequence of a violent
rain which took place, and obliged us to pafs the night at a peafant’s houfe, at the diftance
of a league and a half from Torno.
2 We
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