Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Pages ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
REGNARD’S JOURNEY TO LAPLAND. 199
ftones of adamant. We obferved with much pleafure the furprifing effects of this ftone,
when it is ftill in its native ftate: it required a great deal of force to feparate {tones
fo large as thofe we wifhed to procure; and the hammer that was employed, which
was as thick asa man’s thigh, remained fo fixed when it fell on the chiffel in the ftone,
that the man who {truck with it required fome affiftance before he could withdraw it.
I withed to try this myfelf; and having taken a large iron-bar, fimilar to that which is
employed to lift the heavieft bodies, and which I could fearcely move, I ftruck the
chiflel, which bounded with extreme violence, and fuftained the fhock with inconceiv-
able force : I puta compafs, which I had, in the middle of the aperture of the mine, and
the needle turned round with inconceivable rapidity : we took the beft ftones, and re-
mained no longer in this place. We went to find our boats, and travelled to fleep at
Tuna Hianda, at the houfe of one of our boatmen, who fhowed us his letters of exemp-
tion from taxes, which he had received from the King, for difcovering this iron-mine.
This peafant called himfelf Lars Larzon, Laurentius a Laurentio.
The next day, Sunday, we travelled a confiderable way, and arrived.in the evening at
Koenges, where we had ftopt a day in pafling. We purchafed in this place fledges,
and all the harnefs which is neceflary to yoke the rein-deer ; they coft us a ducat each.
We did not depart till Monday at mid-day, as we were obliged to wait for the boats,
which were at a great diftance, and which it was neceflary to carry a great way, to avoid
the cataraéts, which are extremely violent in this place. We flept this night at Pello,
where we had the pleafure of feeing on our arrival that method of fifhing the pike, of
which I have already fpoken to you, and which appeared to me fo aftonifhing. It is
not furprifing that the mhabitants of this country fhould adopt every poflible method of
catching fifh: they have nothing elfe to fubfift on ; and nature, which often gives the
remedy along with the difeafe, when refufing grain to this people, gives them fifh in
greater abundance than in any other country in the world. We came next day, being
the firft of September, to fleep at the houfe of the magiftrate of Lapland, a German, of
whom I have already fpoken; and on the next day we arrived at Torno, after having
paffed more than fifty cataracts. Thefe cataracts are very impetuous falls of water,
which make a dreadful noife in falling : there are fome which continue during the length
of two or three leagues; and it is the greateft pleafure in the world to fee thefe tor-
rents defcending with an inconceivable {wiftnefs, and making three or four Swedith miles
in an hour, which are equal to twelve French leagues. The more {trong the cataract
is, it is neceflary to ply the oar with the greater vigour, in order to defend the boat
againft the waves; by which means, being at the fame time hurried on by the torrent,
and aflifted by the oar, you make an aftonifhing diftance in a little time.
We arrived at Torno on Tuefday, and we came in good time to fee the ceremony of
the funeral of John Torneus, whom I formerly mentioned, and who had been dead
two months. It is the cuftom in Sweden to keep the bodies of their dead a very long
time: this length of time depends on the quality of the deceafed ; and the higher the
rank of the perfon, the longer is the funeral deferred. ‘This time is afforded, that every
thing may be prepared for this event, which is the moft folemn that takes place in this
country ; and if it be faid that the Turks lay out their property on marriages, the Jews
on circumcifions, and the chriftians on law-fuits, we may add, the Swedes on their fu-
nerals, In fact, I was aftonifhed at the great expence Jaid out upon the funeral of a man
who was not by any means of rank, and that too in a country fo barbarous, and at fuch
a diftance from the reft of the world. They had no fooner heard of our arrival, than
the fon-in-law of the defunét immediately began to ftudy a Latin oration, which he in-
tended to deliver the next day in our prefence, inviting us to attend his father’s oe
ie
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
