9. If any one man gets between two squares occupied by his enemies, he
is killed and taken off, except the king, who is not liable to this
misfortune.
10. If the king, being in his own square or castle, is encompassed on
three sides by his enemies, one of them standing in each of three of the
squares numbered 2, he may move away by the fourth. If one of his own
people happens to be in this fourth square, and one of his enemies in
number 3 next to it, the soldier thus enclosed between his king and the
enemy is killed. If four of the enemy gain possession of the four
squares marked 2, thus enclosing the king, he becomes their prisoner.
11. If the king be in 2, with an enemy in each of the adjoining squares,
_a_, _A_ and 3, he is likewise taken.
12. Whenever the king is thus taken or imprisoned, the war is over, and
the conqueror seizes all the Swedes, the conquered party resigning all
the Muscovites that he had taken.
* * * * *
The Laplanders use the middle bark of the elm for dressing their
reindeer skins, but merely by chewing it, and rubbing their saliva on
the skins.
They also tan with birch bark, but do not suffer the skins to remain
long under the operation, which they say would render them rotten and
apt to rend, neither can they spare them very long.
White _walmal_ cloth is procured from Russia, but for want thereof they
commonly wear a light grey cloth of the same kind.
Ropes are made of roots of spruce fir in the following manner. Choosing
the most slender roots, they scrape off the bark, while fresh, with the
back of a knife, holding the roots against the thigh. Afterwards each
root is first split with the knife into three or four parts, which are
then by degrees separated into a number of very slender fibres; and
these, being wrapped round the hand like a skain of thread, are tied
together. They are then boiled in a kettle for an hour or two, with a
considerable quantity of wood ashes. While still soft from this boiling,
they are laid across the knee, and scraped three or four times over with
a knife. At last they are twisted into small ropes. Birch roots serve in
like manner to afford cordage for the Laplanders, but more rarely. The
latter are more generally used, without being split, for basket-work.
For various articles of furniture the roots of _Tall_ (Scotch Fir,
_Pinus sylvestris_) are cut into small boards. The wood of that tree
serves for inferior kinds of work, and, amongst other things, for
cheese-vats.
The Laplanders scrape with a knife the young and tender stalks of the
plant called _Jerja_, (_Sonchus alpinus_, _Sm. Plant. Ic._ _t._ 21.) and
eat them as a delicacy, like those of the great _Angelica_ (_A.
Archangelica_), which in the first year of their growth are termed
_Fatno_.
A Laplander always places himself at the further part of his hut, and
his guest is seated next to him on a skin spread on purpose. The master
of the hut is by this means enabled to reach the vessel in which water
is kept for drink, and which always stands in the upper part of the hut.
The river Hyttan flows in a perpetual stream both summer and winter. Now
if, according to the general opinion, the water of this river were
derived from exhalations of the great ocean, collected by the alps of
this country, it should cease to run when all the alpine tracts are
frozen. The stream must therefore be constantly fed by neighbouring
springs.
The names by which the Laplanders distinguish the several times of the
day or night are as follows.
Midnight is called in their language _kaskia_. The remainder of the
night before dawn, _pojela kaskia_. The morning dawn, _theleeteilyja_.
Sun-rise, _peivimorotak_. Two or three hours after sun-rise, _areiteet_.
The hour of milking the reindeer, which is about 8 or 9 o'clock,
_arrapeivi_. Noon, or dinner time, _kaskapeivi_. About 5 or 6 o'clock in
the afternoon, _eketis peivi_. Sunset, _peiveliti_. Night, _iä_.
The days of the week are named as follows.
Sunday, _Sotno peivi_.
Monday, _Mannutaka_.
Tuesday, _Tistaka_.
Wednesday, _Kaska vacku_, or middle of the week.
Thursday, _Tourestaka_.
Friday, _Perietaka_.
Saturday, _Lavutaka_.
They have no names for the months, but certain weeks are distinguished
by the following appellations.
Midsummer week, _Midtsomarvacku_.
St. Peter's week, June 29, _Pelasmassu vacku_.
Goose week, _Gassa vacku_.
In the middle of the summer, _Gaskakis_.
St. Margaret's, July 20, _Marcrit_.
St. Olaus' mass, July 29, _Vollis_.
(No date mentioned here.) _Vehak_.
St. Laurence, Aug. 10, _Lauras_.
Reindeer-fawn week, _Orryk_. When in a fawn two years old the horns
begin to bud.
St. Bartholomew, Aug. 24, _Barti_.
(No date.) _Hoppmil_.
St. Mary, Sept. 8, _Margi_.
Holy Cross, Sept. 14, _Behawis_.
St. Matthew, Sept. 21, _Matthus_.
St. Michael, Sept. 29, _Michel_.
(St. Faith, Oct. 6?) _Perkit_.
(Middle of Oct.) _Talvi_.
[Illustration]
The annexed figure represents a Laplander's staff. It is tipped with a
blade of iron, as thick as the thumb. With this weapon he attacks the
bear and wolf in the time of deep snow. On the lower part of the shaft
is a sort of hoop, six inches in diameter, made of root of fir, and
fastened with thongs of reindeer skin, one of which passes through a
hole in the staff. At the bottom it is mounted with iron. The use of
this hoop is to prevent the staff from sinking into the snow, when used
as a walking-stick. The shaft itself, made of birch wood, is about four
feet long, and an inch and half thick.
[Illustration]
This sketch is taken from one of their snow shoes, made of wood. Its
length is six feet, from h to i; breadth, from k to g, five inches. The
hind part, i, is rather more obtuse than the other end, h, which last is
elevated about two or three inches. From h it gradually widens to f. The
part from c to d, where the foot stands, is about eight inches; its
breadth three. The under part of the shoe is convex, and furrowed
lengthwise; the upper flattish, raised about ten lines, and the edge all
round is sharp. At b is a band, made of fir root twisted, serving to tie
the shoe fast round the ancle. The general thickness of the shoe
throughout is from three to four lines.
Some people wear a pair of the same size; others have the left shoe
smaller than the right. Each is often lined or covered, about the
central part, with a piece of hairy reindeer skin, to prevent the foot
slipping about upon the shoe, and give a firmer step in walking over the
snow. This is most practised in Kimi-Lapmark, where the wild reindeer
are most abundant.
The Lapland thread is made out of the tendons of reindeer fawns half a
year old. Such thread is covered with tin foil for embroidery, its
pliability rendering it peculiarly fit for the purpose. The tendons are
dried in the sun, being hung over a stick. They are never boiled.
To show to what a high degree of perfection these people have arrived in
the art of making such thread, I brought away a sample of it, which I
believe none of our ladies could match.
Shoes and baskets made of birch bark are used both in Angermanland and
Helsingland, as well as ropes of the same material, which will not sink
in water, but these are not in general use.
The bows which serve the Laplanders for shooting squirrels are composed
of two different kinds of wood, laid parallel to each other. The
innermost is birch, the outermost of what they term _kior_, _kioern_ or
_tioern_. (This is procured from a tree of the Common Fir, _Pinus
sylvestris_, that happens to grow in a curved form, usually in marshy
places, or on the banks of rivers, and whose contracted side is hard
like box: see _vol._ i. _p._ 255; also _Fl. Lapp. n._ 346, [lambda].) If
this be not practised, the bows are more apt to snap. Each layer of wood
is externally convex, yet not so much as to render the bow quite
cylindrical.
When the Laplanders expect any visitors, they are particularly careful
to have plenty of _ris_ (branches of the dwarf birch) spread on the
floor, under the reindeer skins on which they sit; otherwise they would
be thought deficient in civility, and the mistress of the family would
be censured as a bad manager, when the guests returned to their own
homes.
The mode of their entertainment is as follows.
First, if the stranger arrives before their meat is set over the fire to
boil, they present him either with iced milk, or with some kind of
berries mixed with milk, or perhaps with cheese, or with _kappi_, (see
_vol._ i. _p._ 281.) Afterwards, when the meat is sufficiently cooked,
and they have taken it out of the pot, they put into the water, in which
it has been boiled, slices of cheese made of reindeer milk. This is a
testimony of hospitality, and that they are disposed to make their guest
as welcome as they can. They next serve up some of their dry or solid
preparations of milk.
The marriages of the Laplanders are conducted in the following manner.
(This subject was treated in _vol._ i. _p._ 276, like Sterne's "history
of the king of Bohemia and his seven castles," no doubt to the great
dismay of the curious reader. We ought to have warned him of its being
resumed in a subsequent part of the work, but in truth we had not then
ourselves proceeded so far in deciphering the original manuscript.)
1. In the first place the lover addresses his favourite fair-one in a
joking manner, to try whether his proposal be likely to prove acceptable
or not. Perhaps he even goes so far as to speak once or twice to her
father upon the subject. He then takes his leave, either fixing a time
for his return, or not, as it may happen.
2. The lover next takes with him such of his nearest relations as live
in the neighbourhood, who, as well as himself, all carry provisions with
them, to the hut of his mistress, he going last in the procession.
3. When the party arrive at the place of their destination, they all,
except the lover, walk in. If there happen to be any other huts near at
hand, it is usual for the damsel to retire to one of them, that she may
not be obliged to hear the conversation of the visitors. Her admirer
either remains on the outside of the door, amongst the reindeer, or goes
into some neighbouring hut. There are usually two or three spokesmen in
the party, the principal of whom is called _Sugnovivi_. When they are
all seated, the young man's father first presents some brandy to the
father of the young woman; upon which the latter asks why he treats him
with brandy? The former replies, "I am come hither with a good
intention, and I wish to God that it may prosper." He then declares his
errand. If the other party should not be favourably inclined to the
proposal, he rejects it, at the same time thanking the person who made
it. Upon this, all who are present endeavour to prevail upon him to give
his consent to the marriage. If they succeed, or in case the offer has
from the first been accepted, the friends of the lover fetch whatever
they have brought along with them, consisting of various utensils, and
silver coin, which they place on a reindeer skin, spread in the hut,
before the father and mother of the intended bride. The father or the
mother of the bridegroom then distributes the money between the young
woman and her parents. If the sum be thought too small, the latter ask
for more, and it frequently happens that much time is spent in
bargaining, before they can come to a conclusion. When the parties
concerned cannot obtain so large a sum as they think themselves entitled
to, they often reject the whole, and return the money to those who
brought it. But if, on the contrary, matters are brought to a favourable
conclusion, the parents allow their daughter to be sent for. Two of the
bridegroom's relations undertake this office. If the bride has any
confidential female friend, or a sister, they walk arm and arm together;
and in this case the mother of the bridegroom is required to make a
present of a few brass rings, or something of that kind, to this friend
or sister, who keeps lamenting the loss of her companion.
When the bride enters the hut, her father asks whether she is satisfied
with what he has done? To which she replies, that she submits herself to
the disposal of her father, who is the best judge of what is proper for
her. The mother of the bridegroom then presents the bride with the sum
allotted for her, laying it in her lap. If it proves less than she had
expected, she shows her dissatisfaction by various gestures, and signs
of refusal, in which case she may possibly obtain at least the promise
of a larger sum. All these gifts become her own property.
When such pecuniary matters are finally arranged, the father and mother
of the bridegroom present him and his bride with a cup of brandy, of
which they partake together, and then all the company shake hands. They
afterwards take off their caps, and one of the company makes an
oration, praying for God's blessing upon the new-married couple, and
returning thanks to him who "gives every man his own wife, and every
woman her own husband."
The parents of the bridegroom next partake of some brandy, and the whole
stock of that liquor which they had brought with them is fetched for the
company.
All the relations of the bridegroom then come forward with their
provisions, which generally consist of several cheeses, and a piece of
meat dried and salted. The latter is roasted before the fire, while the
company is, in the mean while, regaled with some of the solid
preparations of milk, the bride and bridegroom eating by themselves,
apart from the rest.
Two stewards are next chosen, one of them from the bride's party, the
other from that of the bridegroom. The last-mentioned party are then
required to furnish a quantity of raw meat, amounting to about a pound
and half to each person. This the stewards immediately set about
boiling, and their duty moreover is to serve it round to all present.
This meat is dressed in several separate pots, two only in each hut, if
there be any neighbours whose huts can serve to accommodate the party on
this occasion; for each Laplander has never more than one hut of his
own. The fat part of the broth is first served up in basons. Afterwards
various petticoats or blankets, of walmal cloth, are spread on the
floor, by way of a table-cloth, on which the boiled meat is placed. The
chief persons of the company then, as many as can find room, take their
places in the hut of the bride's family, sitting down round the
provision, while the children and inferiors are accommodated in the
neighbouring huts. Grace is then said. The bride and bridegroom are
placed near together, for the most part close to the door, or place of
entrance. They are always helped to the best of the provision. The
company then serve themselves, taking their meat on the points of their
knives, and dipping each morsel into some of the fat broth, in which
the whole has been boiled, before they put it into their mouths. Numbers
of people assemble from the neighbourhood, to look in upon the company
through the door; and as they expect to share in the feast, the stewards
give them two or three bits of meat, according as they respect them more
or less. What remains after every body is satisfied, is put together,
and wrapped up in the blankets or cloths, that part of it which is left
by the new-married couple being kept separate from the rest, as no other
person is allowed to partake of their share. The dinner being over, the
whole company shake hands and return thanks for their entertainment.
They always shake hands with the bride and bridegroom in the first
place, and then with the rest, saying at the same time _kussl[)a]n_.
After taking some brandy, the whole party go to bed. The herd of
reindeer had been turned out to pasture from the time when the meat was
put into the pot. The bride and bridegroom sleep together with their
clothes on.
When the company rise in the morning, if the bridegroom's father and
their party have any thing left, they treat the others with it; for the
family of the bride have seldom any preparation made, not expecting, or
not being supposed to expect, such company, and they never keep any
brandy by them, but purchase it for every occasion. Whatever cold meat
therefore remains is brought forward, to which the bride's party indeed
add cheese, and any other preparation of milk they may have in store, as
well as any dried meat; such things being usually kept by them. With
these the party regale themselves by way of breakfast. Afterwards the
family of the bride boil some fresh meat, as a final repast for their
guests, who, after partaking of it, take their leave.
The banns are usually published once. The marriage ceremony, which is
very short, is performed after the above-mentioned company is departed.
This being over, the bridegroom either takes his wife immediately home
with him, or he goes to his own hut alone, and stays there from one to
five days, after which he returns to her residence, bringing with him
his herd of reindeer, and stays there for some time with her.
Such of the Laplanders as are rich enough to afford it, make their wives
a present of a coverlet; a petticoat made of cloth, without any gathers,
as usual among these people; a small silver beaker or cup; several
rix-dollars and silver rings; a spoon, &c.; so that many a bride costs
her husband more than a hundred dollars, copper money. To the mother he
perhaps gives a silver belt, as well as a cloth petticoat.
I have already mentioned that the Laplanders eat _Angelica_
(_sylvestris_) in a raw state. This plant, which the inhabitants of
Westbothland call _Bioernstut_, has so many names among the Laplanders,
according to the different stages of its growth, as to cause much
confusion to a stranger. The first year of its growth they term the root
_Urtas_, and the leaves _Fadno_; but the second year the plant is known
by the name of _Posco_ or _Botsk_. When the stalk is dried, or eaten
raw, they call it _Rasi_, that is, grass. They say, when any one has
eaten more of this plant than is good for him, "_Elli rasi ist purro
etnach_," the meaning of which is, "Thou hast overloaded thyself with
such a quantity of grass."
Another herb of which they are very fond is the Sowthistle with a simple
stem, known by the name of _Jerja_. (_Sonchus alpinus._ _Fl. Lapp ed._
2. 240. _Sm. Pl. Ic. t._ 21. _S. lapponicus._ _Willd. Sp. Pl._ _v._ 3.
1520.) This has a perennial root. The stem is erect, round, green,
smooth, except a few soft scattered hairs, which are most remarkable
towards the top and bottom, and is almost as tall as a man. Leaves about
twelve or fourteen, half clasping the stem, gradually smaller upwards,
nearly the shape of Dandelion, or of the common Sowthistle, one half of
each leaf, consisting of the terminal lobe, making exactly an acute
triangle, toothed at the edges; from that part downwards the leaf
contracts, but not to the main rib, and then again expands into two
narrow appendages, as it were, equal in breadth, but unequal in length,
which are crenate at their edges. From thence begins the stalk of the
leaf, which is winged and toothed, and half embraces the stem. The
leaves are thin and smooth, with a rib purple on the upper side, and the
upper ones are the least divided, as well as the bluntest. The flowers
are collected into a corymbus, somewhat like Butterbur, but more
loosely, especially in the lower part, each supported by a very short
stalk, accompanied by a very narrow oblong leaf which extends beyond the
flower. The calyx consists of several oblong, narrow, acute, imbricated
leaves, varying in number from fourteen to twenty, the outermost
gradually shortest, but the ten innermost are equal in length, and
blunter than the rest, composing two rows; the calyx altogether is
shorter than the corolla, tubular, swelling, and downy. Florets equal in
number to the leaves of the calyx. Germen short, square, crowned with
long white radiating down. Petal flat, cut away on one side,
violet-coloured, five-toothed. Stamens five, white, their apex (anther)
cylindrical, five-sided, white, marked with five blue lines. Pistil one,
forked at the top. Receptacle naked, dotted. This plant grows among
trees at the sides of mountains, along with the narrow-hooded Aconite
(_Aconitum lycoctonum_), flowering at the end of July or beginning of
August. The stem, which is milky, is eaten by the Laplanders in the same
manner as Angelica. The taste was to me very bitter, but the people of
the country do not find it so, though they confessed that it appeared
bitter to them when they first learned to eat it. As soon as the plant
shows its flowers, the stalk becomes woody, and no longer eatable.
The sinews of which the fine thread is made that, when covered with tin,
serves for embroidery, and is called _tentråd_ (tin-thread), are taken
from the feet of the reindeer, or of oxen, boiled; though sometimes the
feet of sea-fowl are chosen for this purpose. Old women and girls are
employed in preparing this thread, by drawing it through holes made in a
piece of reindeer's horn. They wind it round their hands and feet as
they form it, and smear it with fat extracted from the foot of the
animal, to make it more supple, as they proceed.
Hay is made in different modes in various parts of Sweden. In
Westbothland the fresh-cut grass is heaped together over night, that it
may get a heat. Next day it is spread out, and by this method its
quality is supposed to become richer and stronger. The same is practised
with hops in Jamtland, where the fresh-gathered hops are packed
together, as hard as possible, till they become warm; after which they
are spread out to dry. Their strength is by this means improved.
The people of Scania having mowed their grass, let it lie till dry, when
they rake it together.
The Smolanders dry it in a kind of shed.
The East Gothlanders range it in heaps, two and two together, in a long
row.
In Upland the new-mown grass is tied up in bundles, and collected into
cocks.
In Angermannia the whole year's crop is laid by upon a kind of raised
floor.
In Westbothland, after being dried in the shed, the hay is kept there
for use, being laid crosswise, and cut when wanted[4].
_July 23._
This evening I took leave of the alpine part of Lapland, and returned
by water from Hyttan towards Lulea.
The White, or Mountain, Fox (_Canis lagopus_) lives among the alps,
feeding on the Lemming Rat or Red Mouse, (_Mus Lemmus_,) as well as on
the Ptarmigan (_Tetrao Lagopus_). This White Fox is smaller than the
common kind. The Ptarmigan, which the Laplanders call _Cheruna_, feeds
on the Dwarf Birch (_Betula nana_), which for that reason is called
_Ryprys_, or Ptarmigan-bush. At night this bird lies squat upon the
snow, in the same posture as the Wood Grous (_Tetrao Urogallus_, see
_vol._ 1. 179): hence a great deal of its dung is seen in the prints it
makes in the snow. This mode of roosting renders the Ptarmigan an easy
prey to the Fox.
The Lemming or Red Mouse, see _p._ 18, (_Mus Lemmus_,) in some seasons
entirely overruns the country; devouring the corn and grass: but though
these animals thus occasionally appear by millions at a time, they
subsequently depart and disappear as unaccountably, so that nobody knows
what becomes of them. They do no mischief in the houses.
The Ermine (_Mustela Erminea_) is white in winter, red in summer. This
animal is seldom met with on the alps, but is very plentiful in the
forests. Foxes and Wolves have destroyed the chief of the Hares. The
Wolves indeed kill the Foxes.
The Shrew Mouse (_Sorex araneus_) and Common Small Mouse (_Mus
Musculus_) are found in Lapmark, but no Rats (_Mus Rattus_).
Hunting the Bear is often undertaken by a single man, who, having
discovered the retreat of the animal, takes his dog along with him and
advances towards the spot. The jaws of the dog are tied round with a
cord, to prevent his barking, and the man holds the other end of this
cord in his hand. As soon as the dog smells the bear, he begins to show
signs of uneasiness, and by dragging at the cord informs his master that
the object of his pursuit is at no great distance. When the Laplander
by this means discovers on which side the bear is stationed, he advances
in such a direction that the wind may blow from the bear to him, and not
the contrary; for otherwise the animal would by the scent be aware of
his approach, though not able to see an enemy at any considerable
distance, being half blinded by the sunshine. When he has gradually
advanced to within gunshot of the bear, he fires upon him; and this is
the more easily accomplished in autumn, as the bear is then more
fearless, and is continually prowling about for berries of different
kinds, on which he feeds at that season of the year. Should the man
chance to miss his aim, the furious beast will directly turn upon him in
a rage, and the little Laplander is obliged to take to his heels with
all possible speed, leaving his knapsack behind him on the spot. The
bear coming up with this, seizes upon it, biting and tearing it into a
thousand pieces. While he is thus venting his fury, and bestowing all
his attention, upon the knapsack, the Laplander takes the opportunity
of loading his gun, and firing a second time; when he is generally sure
of hitting the mark, and the bear either falls upon the spot or runs
away.
_July 24._
In the huts of this neighbourhood I observed an instrument which I had
no where noticed before, consisting of an oblong board, placed
transversely at the end of a pole. Its use is to stir the pot while
boiling.
Directly opposite to Hyttan towards the west, and on the south of the
mountain of Wallivari, is a vein of fine iron ore, but hardly worth
working while the roads, by which it must be conveyed to Lulea, are in
so bad a state.
This night I beheld a star, for the first time since I came within the
arctic circle. Nevertheless the darkness was not considerable enough to
prevent my reading or writing whatever I pleased.
One of the Laplanders had caught a quantity of the fish called
_Sikloja_ (_Salmo Albula_) of a large size. He stuck about twenty of
them on one spit, the back of each being placed towards the belly of the
next, and they were thus roasted before the fire. These fish had
previously been dried, though not at all salted.
The glue used by the Laplanders for joining the two portions of
different woods of which their bows are made (see _p._ 66,) is prepared
from the Common Perch (_Perca fluviatilis_) in the following manner.
Some of the largest of this fish being flayed, the skins are first
dried, and afterwards soaked in a small quantity of cold water, so that
the scales can be rubbed off. Four or five of these skins being wrapped
up together in a bladder, or in a piece of birch bark, so that no water
can get at them, are set on the fire in a pot of water to boil, a stone
being laid over the pot, to keep in the heat. The skins thus prepared
make a very strong glue, insomuch that the articles joined with it will
never separate again. A bandage is tied round the bow while making, to
hold the two parts the more firmly together.
When these people undertake a short journey only, they carry no bag for
provisions, the latter being stored between their outer and inner
jackets, which are always bound with a girdle, being wide, and formed of
numerous folds, both above and below it.
The Purple Willow-herb, or _Epilobium_ (_angustifolium_?) made the
fields at this time very beautiful. The Golden-rod (_Solidago
Virgaurea_) was likewise here in blossom, though not yet upon the alps,
where it flowers later.
I have never yet seen any animal swim so light as the reindeer. During
the dogdays the herds of reindeer, belonging to the inhabitants of the
woody parts of Lapland, are very badly off for want of snow, with which
those animals refresh themselves in hot weather upon the alps. Hence
they constitute a more valuable and thriving property to the alpine
Laplanders than to any others. In the winter time, when the favourite
Lichen of the reindeer (_L. rangiferinus_) cannot be got at, their
keepers fell trees laden with filamentous Lichens, to serve them for
food; but it scarcely proves sufficient.
The rivulet near Kiomitis Trask has a very white appearance, as if milk
had been mixed with it. This the inhabitants term _kalkwatter_, or
lime-water, from the colour, not from any knowledge of its cause or
origin. This rivulet they told me came from the alps. It empties itself
into the great river near Kiomitis, and renders the water of that river
white for the space of four or five miles. I noticed a similar
phænomenon at Wirijaur.
I was amused with the mode in which these Laplanders take brandy. After
they have laid hold of the mug, they dip their forefingers into the
liquor, and rub a little on their foreheads, as well as on the middle of
their bosoms. On inquiring the reason, I was told their intention was
that the brandy might not prove hurtful either to the head or breast.
Some people here were regaling themselves with fresh fish, of the kind
lately mentioned (_Salmo Albula_), which having boiled into a mass like
pap or flummery, they were eating out of their hands.
The dress of the Laplanders is, in one particular at least, very wisely
contrived. Their thick collars effectually protect the throat and
breast, which being furnished with numerous nerves and small muscles,
and being the seat of the windpipe and of many principal veins and
arteries, are very important and susceptible parts. The neck moreover,
from its slender shape, is peculiarly exposed to cold. Hence the
protection of clothing is found very necessary to the parts in question.
For want of it our young women suffer much injury, which our youths
avoid by running into the contrary extreme of tying their neckcloths so
tight as to make themselves as red in the face as if they were half
strangled.
We Swedes are accustomed to have all our clothing made very tight. Not
only the neckcloth, but the coat, waistcoat, breeches, stockings,
sleeves, &c., must all stick close to the body, and the tighter they are
the more fashionable. The Laplanders, on the contrary, wear only two,
and those slight, bandages about them, which moreover are broad, and
therefore less injurious than a narrow bandage in any part. Those to
which I allude are the waistband and knees of their breeches, both made
sufficiently loose and easy.
To-day I gathered the following plants.--A reed-like panicled Grass,
with a very slender branched stem. (This appears to have been _Arundo
Calamagrostis_, _Fl. Lapp._ _n._ 42.)
A great aquatic _Carex_, with inflated, whitish, pendulous spikes. In
more dry situations they were upright and shorter, but in every other
particular the same. (_C. vesicaria._) A grass with a slender
dark-coloured panicle, approaching the stem. (_Agrostis rubra_, _Fl.
Lapp._ _n._ 46.)
_July 25._
The lakes in this part of the country did not afford me so many plants
as further south. Their bottoms were quite clear, and destitute of
vegetation. Their shores were no less barren. No Water-lilies
(_Nymphææ_), no Water-docks, &c., (different species of _Rumex_,) grew
about their borders, but the surface of the water itself was covered
with the Water Ranunculus (_R. aquatilis_), bearing round as well as
capillary leaves, and whitening the whole with its blossoms. I could not
but wonder to see these broad patches of white spread over the lakes,
though, when I passed up the country but a fortnight before, I had not
perceived the least appearance of even the herbage of the _Ranunculus_
that composed them. Now its branches, an ell in length, swam on the
surface. The growth of the stem must be very rapid, as it often
proceeded from a depth of three fathoms. Some of the plants thrown up on
the shore had capillary leaves, as are all those which grow under the
water. The root resembles that of the _Iris_.
I noticed also the Pondweed with leaves clasping the stem (_Potamogeton
perfoliatum_, rare in Lapland); and a very large branched floating
Water-grass, with cylindrical spikes, which I hesitate whether to
separate from the _Gramen aquaticum geniculatum spicatum_, (of Bauhin
and Rudbeck. _Alopecurus geniculatus_ of Linnæus. The grass of which he
here speaks is _n._ 38 of his _Flora Lapponica._ _A. geniculatus_
[beta], _Sp. Pl._ 89.)
The annexed figure represents the Norwegian cross-bow, used for shooting
squirrels, which it will hit at the distance of twenty or thirty paces
as certainly as a gun.
It was curious to observe the dexterity with which one of the
Laplanders hit a small fly, which I had set up for a mark, at the
distance of thirty paces.
[Illustration]
The bow itself, a, a, a, made of steel, is two feet and a half long, two
inches wide in the middle, gradually sloping off to the extremities,
which are only one inch in width. Each end is rounded, with a notch,
where the cord is fixed, which, when the bow is drawn, seems in danger
of immediately slipping off, but it never does. The whole bow when at
rest makes a curve of two inches; when strongly bent it forms one of
seven.
The cord b, fixed on at the ends b, b, is made of twisted hemp, as thick
as one's finger, bound round with hempen thread, especially in the
middle, where it is to receive the bolt.
The stock c, c, made of wood ornamented with inlaid work of bone, is two
feet and a half long, and half a palm broad, being half an inch thick
towards the top, and an inch at the base. Its upper side is entirely
covered with the above-mentioned inlaying, and quite even or flat,
except towards the base or handle, where it is slightly concave.
The part marked d on the bow, and D on a larger scale annexed, is the
catch, like a pulley, which turns on an iron pin, and in the side of
which is a projection, with a rectangular notch, see _fig._ 1 and 2.
When the bow is bent, the angle at _fig._ 2 catches the cord, and is let
go by means of the apparatus represented at c, c, by the side.
As no human being is sufficiently strong to draw this bow with the hands
alone, a strap of leather is fixed round the loins, ending in two iron
hooks, which lay hold of the cord. One foot is put into the strap at the
top of the bow, h, and then, by the exertion of the body, the bow is
drawn till the cord catches the angle of the pulley D.
[Illustration]
The annexed cut represents the bolt of this Norwegian crossbow, which is
a foot and half long, an inch thick. From the extremity, which is
thicker and blunt, to the feathered part, is about a foot. The feathers,
taken from the wing of the great Grous or Cock of the wood, (_Tetrao
Urogallus_,) are stripped from the quill, and placed erect in three
longitudinal rows; and after being bound on with thread, the part by
which they are attached is smeared with pitch, to fix them the more
firmly. The whole bolt is made of birch wood. Its base is compressed,
naked and smooth, formed with a groove to receive the bow-string.
This more finished and elaborate sort of bow is principally used in
Westbothnia. The whole cost of one, with all its appurtenances, amounts
to fifteen dollars, copper money. The Laplanders therefore content
themselves with a far more rude and simple apparatus, consisting of such
a wooden bow made of birch, as I have already described, with a string
fitted to it. Or they merely cut a branch of fir in the forest, and with
any bit of cord that happens to come in their way, kill abundance of
squirrels, holding the bow with their left hand, and drawing it with
their right by means of a small cleft stick. Thus they will, as I have
witnessed, take successful aim at the _Emberiza nivalis_, or Snow
Bunting, sitting on the tops of the most lofty pines.
It is commonly reported that no clay is to be found in Lapland, but I
met with some in two different places; in each instance indeed it was at
the bottom of a lake, as at Rondijaur and Sckalka trask, the shores
being of sand though the bottom was clay.
Nets are set in the lakes in winter to catch the Sijk fish (_Salmo
Lavaretus_, or Gwiniad.) Holes are made for this purpose in the ice,
and the nets are dragged with a string. This is done from St. Andrew's
day, (Nov. 30th,) to Christmas.
The Laplanders make their sledges serve for chests, when they are not
used for their proper purpose, by constructing a sort of roof or convex
covering, with an opening in the middle, to admit whatever they choose
to store up within. This opening shuts with a moveable lid. Sledges in
this state occasionally serve for the conveyance of goods from one place
to another, the covering keeping them dry.
Caps are made of the skin of the _Colymbus arcticus_, (Black-throated
Diver,) which is very tough when properly prepared. This bird has a grey
ring round its neck, as described by Wormius.
I met with a _Carex_, bearing round capsules, full of black powder.
(Probably _Carex panicea_, whose seeds are often infected with the
_ustilago_ or smut.)
_July 26._
I shall here give a description of the _Achier_ or sledge. This is a
kind of travelling machine invented by the Laplanders, drawn along the
ground like other sledges, and made of birch wood. The back part is
upright, or nearly so, the lower part only being somewhat sloping
inwards, and its form is roundish, the height a foot, the breadth a foot
and a half. The body of the machine is like the hulk of a boat, with an
obtuse keel, and consists of five longitudinal boards on each side,
lying one over the edge of another; that which forms the keel being
about an inch thick, and lying flat like the others. Each board is not
externally plane, but convex, so that as the carriage is drawn over the
snow it leaves several tracks or lines where it goes, the board which
forms the keel only being quite flat. The boards, which are fixed at one
extremity in a circular manner to the roundish board that makes the
back, (or as it were the stern,) are collected by their points at the
other, and all bound together with a rope, for there are no nails to
fasten them. The whole carriage is six feet in length, and from the back
part to within two feet of the front its breadth is all the way about
four feet. From that spot the keel begins to curve upwards, and the
transverse dimensions are contracted gradually to a point. This sledge
is drawn by a rope that goes through a hole in the front of the keel.
The edges or sides of the machine do not curve outwards, but rather
inwards. When any covering is to be put on, which is always done in part
when any person is to travel sitting in this carriage, and entirely,
from one end to the other, when it is intended to be used for the
conveyance of goods, two or three semicircular or archlike bows are
erected, fixed by their ends within the edges of the carriage, which
serve to support a covering of seal-skin, or cloth, whose margin next
the back is loose, and so far distant from that part as to allow the
traveller to sit upright, his legs lying under the cover, while the said
margin is tied round his waist, like an apron, serving to keep the snow
out of the hollow part of the machine. The person of the traveller is
further secured by strings fixed to the edges of the carriage, which
lace around him across the top, so as to prevent his being thrown out by
any oblique or unexpected movement. Each board, which composes the body
of the sledge, is somewhat convex on the inside, but still the whole
internal surface is sufficiently smooth and even. The point in front
sometimes projects a foot beyond the hollow part[5].
It is worthy of notice that the Laplanders use no almanack, but in its
stead only a kind of instrument like the ancient runic calendar of the
Goths, composed of seven small splinters or boards. They have indeed
names to mark some periods, as already mentioned p. 62; but they do not,
like us, compute time by the month, but by the course of their various
holidays. They have also a name for every week. They are unable to tell
when an eclipse of the sun or moon is to be expected. The year begins,
by their reckoning, on the Friday before Christmas day.
The people in the part of the country where I was now travelling wear,
in summertime, either a coat of walmal cloth next the skin, or no coat
at all, only a _lappmudd_ as they call it, (or garment of
reindeer-skin,) stripped of its hair.
At sun-set we reached Purkijaur, where we in vain attempted to procure a
boat. We had no resource but to make ourselves a float or raft, on which
we committed our persons and all our property to the guidance of the
current of the river. The night proved very dark in consequence of a
thick fog, insomuch that we could not see before us to the distance of
three fathoms. After a while we found ourselves in the middle of the
stream, and it was not long before the force of the water separated the
timbers of our raft, and we were in imminent danger of our lives. At
length however, with the greatest difficulty, we reached a house
situated on an island, after a voyage of half a mile from where we
embarked[6].
At Purkijaur I hired a man to show me the manner of fishing for pearls,
for which I agreed to pay him six dollars. He made a raft of five
timbers as thick as my body, and two fathoms in length. At each end was
a staple to which the anchor was attached. This anchor was nothing more
than a stone, tied round with twigs of birch that it might not be lost,
to which he fastened a cord, about two fathoms in length, made of birch
twigs. He was likewise furnished with a pole of the same length, which
served him to steer his raft, as it floated along the strong current.
The bottom of the river is not easily seen at any great depth; but when
he could distinctly perceive it, he dropped his stone anchor, fixing the
upper end of the rope to the staple on the raft, by which it became
stationary. Whenever he wished to examine another spot, he weighed
anchor, and resigned himself to the force of the current. Where the
water was shallow, he stood upright on his raft; but where the depth was
considerable, he lay at full length, with his face downwards, looking
over the edge of the raft.
By means of a pair of wooden pincers, two fathoms in length, he laid
hold of the pearl oysters (rather muscles, _Mya margaritifera_,) and
drew them up. The part of the pincers below the joint or hinge was about
a span long, and of three fingers breadth, hollowed out at the points,
one of which was curved, the other flat. Taking the other end of these
pincers in his hands, he easily directed them to the spot where he saw
the shells lying.
The latter were generally open, so that they might readily be discerned
by the whiteness of their inside; but when the water is very much
agitated, the animals immediately close their shells, though destitute
of eyes or ears.
The form of the shell is elliptic-oblong, with a contraction, or
shallow notch as it were, about the middle of their outer margin. The
man opened them by means of a whilk shell, which he thrust with violence
between the valves, for it is impossible to effect this with the finger
only. He introduced the point of the whilk in the centre of the base, or
broader end, of the muscle, searching for the pearls chiefly towards the
other end, on the inside of the valve. If the inside of the latter be
white, the pearl is white; but if dark or reddish, the pearl is of the
same colour.
When it was first discovered that this neighbourhood produced pearls,
the river at Purkijaur was the place where the principal pearl-fishery
was established. But now it is nearly exhausted. When the discovery of
this bed of pearl muscles was first made, it is said the shells were in
such abundance that nobody could reach the bottom of them, which is far
from being the case at present.
There is no external sign about the shell, by which it is possible to
know whether it contains a pearl or not. Consequently many thousands are
destroyed to no purpose before one pearl is found. It is also a great
pity that all the muscles are killed in consequence of this examination.
Each pearl is either attached to the shell, or loose. They are found at
all seasons of the year, and are sometimes thrown out of the shell
spontaneously by its inhabitant.
I witnessed at this place what appeared to me a very extraordinary
phenomenon, a pike in whose stomach, when opened, was found a young duck
entire. The peasant who was my companion told me he had many times seen
the same thing.
_July 27._
The reindeer fed with evident avidity on the great water Horsetail
(_Equisetum fluviatile_), which the Laplanders call _Aske_, though it
was in a dry state, and though they will not eat common hay. How
unaccountably negligent are the Laplanders, not to collect in the
course of summer a stack of this plant and of the Reindeer-moss (_Lichen
rangiferinus_) for winter fodder! They would then have some provision
for the herd, when the country is covered with an impenetrable crust of
frozen snow, and not hazard the loss of all they are worth in the world.
The inhabitants of Westbothnia, to defend themselves against the bites
of gnats, besmear their skin with a mixture of tar and fish-grease, or
some other kind of fat. They keep this composition in a horn which hangs
at their side. The Laplanders however give themselves no trouble about
any such matter.
In order to add to the pungency of the tobacco which they are in the
habit of chewing, the Laplanders mix with it the root of _Angelica_.
(_A. Archangelica_ is preferred, but when that is not at hand, the
_sylvestris_ is used, as appears from the _Flora Lapponica_.)
The women wear their belts in the same manner as the men, except when
they are big with child, in which case the belt must necessarily be
placed much higher than ordinary.
This day I found the little heart-leaved _Ophrys_ (_O. cordata_)
growing, as it usually does, amongst the _Rubus Chamæmorus_, whilst I
was gathering the fruit of the latter. Also the least _Pinguicula_ (_P.
villosa_); but its leaves were withered, and the fruit was ripe, which
is heartshaped and emarginate, of two valves and one cell. The
last-mentioned plant grew among White-moss (_Sphagnum palustre._ These
specimens are still preserved in the Linnæan herbarium.)
The bird called (by the Swedes) Lappskata, Rödfogel in Westbothland,
Gvousach in Lapland, (_Corvus infaustus_, _Faun. Suec._ 32. _Lath. Ind._
159. _Lanius infaustus_, _Syst. Nat._ _v._ 1. 138,) is of a small size,
but it audaciously lays hold of any thing it can find, being so far from
timid that it flew away with part of our provisions as we sat at table.
This bird seems nearly allied to the Jay (_Corvus glandarius_).
It is only in winter the clothes of the Laplanders have any sort of
lining, except that these people generally wear, next the stomach, the
skin of a young reindeer fawn. The sleeves of their coats are not fixed
to the jacket, or body of the garment. The part which covers the
shoulder folds over the top of the sleeve, in the shape of a wedge. A
seam reaches the whole length of the jacket, from top to bottom, on each
side, the jacket becoming gradually wider, downward. It reaches as low
as the middle of the leg. The collar is for the most part blue, stitched
with white thread.
The reindeer are not slaughtered in the same manner as cattle usually
are either at Stockholm or in Smoland. The animal being secured with a
halter, the Laplander takes his spear and sticks it into the thorax
behind the shoulder, so as to pierce the heart. By this means the blood
collects in the cavity of the thorax, none of it appearing externally.
After the skin is flayed off, the blood is found coagulated in the
thorax, from whence it is extracted, and bruised into a soft mass. With
this the poorer sort of people make a kind of soup, by boiling along
with it the brains of the animal, which the rich do not eat. The
testicles are never eaten by any sort of people. The _penis_ serves to
make a thong to draw the sledges.
Such of the Laplanders as inhabit the forests go to the alps at
midsummer and return about St. Laurence's day (August 10th); and the
mountain Laplanders descend into the lower country between the first of
November and Christmas, and go back again about Lady-day.
All kinds of clothing made of skins are sewed with sinews of animals, as
before described; but those of walmal cloth, with hempen thread
purchased from the neighbouring countries.
_July 28._
To-day I found the _Pseudo-helleborine_; (possibly _Cypripedium
Calceolus_, not before mentioned in this journal.)
All the little rills and rivulets hereabouts produced a _Potamogeton_,
which I was doubtful whether to distinguish from the common kind, as it
varies excessively in appearance, but the leaves are more grassy. (_P.
gramineum_, as appears from the _Flora Lapponica_, yet nothing can be
less like the "common kind," if by the latter be meant the _natans_,
which, with the _perfoliatum_ and _gramineum_, compose the catalogue of
species in _Fl. Lapp._)
Hereabouts grew the _Juncus_ with three seeds (_capsules_) at the top of
the stem, which also I observed to be sometimes reflexed. (_J.
triglumis_; see _Fl. Lapp._ ed. 2. 90.)
Several days ago the forests had been set on fire by lightning, and the
flames raged at this time with great violence, owing to the drought of
the season. In many different places, perhaps in nine or ten that came
under my notice, the devastation extended several miles' distance. I
traversed a space three quarters of a mile in extent which was entirely
burnt, so that Flora, instead of appearing in her gay and verdant
attire, was in deep sable, a spectacle more abhorrent to my feelings
than to see her clad in the white livery of winter, for this, though it
destroys the herbage, leaves the roots in safety, which the fire does
not. The fire was nearly extinguished in most of the spots we visited,
except in ant-hills, and dry trunks of trees. After we had travelled
about half a quarter of a mile across one of these scenes of desolation,
the wind began to blow with rather more force than it had done, upon
which a sudden noise arose in the half-burnt forest, such as I can only
compare to what may be imagined among a large army attacked by an enemy.
We knew not whither to turn our steps. The smoke would not suffer us to
remain where we were, nor durst we turn back. It seemed best to hasten
forward, in hopes of speedily reaching the outskirts of the wood; but
in this we were disappointed. We ran as fast as we could, in order to
avoid being crushed by the falling trees, some of which threatened us
every minute. Sometimes the fall of a huge trunk was so sudden, that we
stood aghast, not knowing whither to turn to escape destruction, and
throwing ourselves entirely on the protection of Providence. In one
instance a large tree fell exactly between me and my guide, who walked
not more than a fathom from me, but, thanks to God! we both escaped in
safety. We were not a little rejoiced when this perilous adventure
terminated, for we had felt all the while like a couple of outlaws, in
momentary fear of surprise.
I have long ago related my sufferings from gnats in the course of my
Lapland expedition. In this place I was still more incommoded by some
very small flies, about a line in length and very narrow. Their breast
was of a blueish grey. Front of the head whitish, with black eyes.
Wings pellucid. Body greyish, oblong and narrow. A white scale was
placed on each side at the insertion of the wings. The legs were black,
with a white joint in the middle of each, the base being speckled. The
hind part of the shoulders was whitish. _Antennæ_ simple, minute,
parallel, and pointing right forward. The wings lay one over the other
so as to resemble a single one, notched at the extremity, when the
insect was at rest. Each of us was beset by a whole legion of these
flies towards sun-set. What rendered them peculiarly troublesome was
their manner of running over the face, and flying into the nose, mouth
and eyes. When they were approaching in order to inflict their bite,
they were not to be driven away by our blowing ever so hard. The
Laplanders call these insects _Mockere_, alluding to the smallness of
their head; the Swedes _Knott_. (_Culex reptans._ Linnæus mentions in
the _Fauna Suecica_ the extremely tiresome noise made by these gnats in
their approach.) They covered our linen so as to render it quite black.
It was to no purpose to attempt to drive them away. (See _v._ 1. 208.)
I visited the Laxholms, islands so called from the salmon fishery. Here
the Common Salmon (_Salmo Salar_, named _Lax_ by the Swedes,) is found
with the under jaw occasionally hooked, which variety is termed
_Kroklax_, or Hooked Salmon. I inquired whether this hooked kind was
esteemed a distinct species, or whether a difference arising from age;
to both which questions I was answered in the negative. I was shown fish
of the smallest size, which had in proportion as large a hook to the
lower jaw as the largest. Bonge has therefore fallen into an error in
his dissertation upon salmon. (_Daniel Bonge_, _Dissertatio de Salmonum
naturâ_, _corumque apud Ostrobothnienses piscatione_, _Upsal._ 1730.
4to. under the presidency of Professor Roberg, with wooden cuts.) I
inquired whether the hooked salmon were furnished with roe or with milt.
I was answered that they had always milt. On opening seven of them I
found this verified, whereas four salmon which were not hooked had all
of them roes. The hooked (or male) salmon is so called, because the
point of its lower jaw is bent inward, and has a taper form, resembling
a finger; while on the contrary the upper is furnished with a cavity to
receive that point, embracing it like a sheath, for about half its
length. The female fish has a more obtuse lower jaw, but not less
inflexed, there being only a very slight furrow in the upper one; so
that the two sexes may be distinguished from each other by these marks
from the earliest age.
Those who fish for salmon come to this place about a fortnight before
midsummer, and remain till St. Bartholomew's day, August 24th, as during
that space of time the salmon keep ascending the river. After the day
last mentioned none of the fishermen remain. Few of the fish escape
being taken, so as to return down the river. At Michaelmas the fishermen
come here again, when they catch a smaller sort of salmon.
This day I observed the harvest beginning. The corn now cutting, though
sown but a few days before midsummer, was nevertheless quite ripe. The
lent rye was not yet ripe enough to be cut, but the winter rye ripens
some time before the other corn. Thus it appears that corn (barley)
springs up and ripens at this place in the space of sixty days.
In my walks I gathered the berries of the Strawberry-leaved Bramble
(_Rubus arcticus_), which proved delicious. They have somewhat of the
flavour of Blackberries (_Rubus fruticosus_), but are more agreeable.
This fruit does not separate from its calyx like other specie of its
genus. It is a compound berry, in size and structure somewhat between
what the Smolanders call _Kodden_ (_Rubus saxatilis_), and Raspberries
(_R. idæus_). Its colour is a brownish crimson.
The (_Pedicularis_) _Sceptrum Carolinum_ is perennial, with scales, not
a fibrous tuft or beard, at the root[7]. The stem is round, not
quadrangular. Calyx five-cleft[8]. Lower lip regular, divided into three
equal segments.
_Pedicularis_ with a purple head (_Bartsia alpina._ _Linn. Sp. Pl._ 839.
_Engl. Bot. t._ 361. _Euphrasia._ _Fl. Lapp. n._ 246.) shows an affinity
to the _Crista Galli_ (_Rhinanthus_) in its calyx, which is divided into
four equal acute segments. The fruit is ovate and acute, compressed at
the point. Lower lip straight. All the other _Pediculares_, except
_Sceptrum Carolinum_, have an oblique fruit.
Here and there grew specimens of Heath (_Erica vulgaris_) with tufted
branches, looking like a pruned spruce fir, and very beautiful.
The water of the river now began to decrease, in consequence of which it
became clearer, and it was more difficult to catch any fish.
Scarcely any species of _Carex_ was to be found this season but what had
some degree of smut or _ustilago_ about its spikes, consisting of little
globular black bodies, changing to dust.
_July 29._
Tanning of leather is thus performed by the Laplanders.
The scaly cuticle of the birch being first stripped off, the bark is
then scraped from the tree and boiled fresh in water, for about as long
a time as is requisite to boil fish; being afterwards set by to cool, to
a certain degree, that it may not injure the hide by being too hot. The
latter, having previously been scalded, by dipping into luke-warm water,
is then soaked in the decoction of bark, and the vessel containing it
sunk into a hole dug in the ground, at the extremity of the hut. The
hide is taken out every day, and softened in luke-warm water, till the
hair becomes loose, when it is scraped off by such a knife as tanners
use. The skin is then replaced in the tan when cool, without any
previous drying, till the third day after the hair comes off, when it is
hung up to dry in the shade. When the leather is but half dry, they
often cut it up for shoes, which are always made by the women, without
any last. The thread used for the purpose is that made of tendons.
Some persons never scald the hide, but scrape off the hair with a knife,
soak it a little in water, and then plunge it into the tan.
Near Swartlär I noticed a mineral spring, but whatever may be its
qualities, nobody has yet made any inquiries concerning them.
The river Lulea divides into two branches, not far above the bounds of
Lapmark and Westbothnia, one of which is called the little river Lulea,
whose origin is among the mountains towards Hyttan, the other Stor
Lulea, running from the alps in Nörbattra.
_July 30._
On examining the cultivated Hop (_Humulus Lupulus_), I found the
structure of the female as follows. Calyx consisting of an universal
involucrum of four leaves, and a partial one, likewise of four ovate
leaves, containing eight florets, each of which has an ovate spatha, of
a very large size with respect to the rudiments of the fruit. Petals
none. Pistils two, horn-like. Stigmas acute. Seed-vessel none, the base
of the spatha enclosing the seed, which is solitary.
The shore of the river Lulea produced, in excessive abundance, the Water
Sedum (_Tillæa aquatica_); likewise the Aquatic Dwarf Plantain
(_Limosella aquatica_). The Spiked Water-grass, with a bent stem, here
grew above other plants, twisting its leaves round them, like a sort of
bindweed. (_Alopecurus geniculatus_ [beta]. _Sp. Pl._ 89. See _Fl. Lapp.
n._ 38.)
The Water Sedum (_Tillæa aquatica_) proved no less plentiful by the
sides of the roads.
In the river I gathered an herb, which I was doubtful whether to refer
to _Stellaria_ (_Callitriche_), to _Potamogeton_, or to the _Aponogeton_
of Pontedera. (This appears to have been the latter, _Zannichellia
palustris_.)