It rained and thundered violently during the whole night.
_July 31._
This day I had intended to prosecute my journey towards Tornea, but a
heavy rain, with tremendous thunder and lightning, confined me entirely
to the house.
The wife of the principal clergyman of Lulea, on whose accuracy I have
the greatest possible dependance, assured me that she had, at the
posthouse of Biorsiö, in the parish of Torp, in Medelpad, seen large
quantities of the Yellow Aconite (_Aconitum lycoctonum_; see vol. 1.
36), collected and boiled for the use of the table, like cabbage. This
astonished her very much, as she knew it to be used in Jemtland to
poison flies. When she expressed her apprehensions about eating of this
herb, the maid-servant laughed at her, telling her it was much too good
to be so slighted.
Hares are always hunted in this part of the country, and the dogs are
trained not to bark. If they offend in this respect they are sure of a
beating.
_August 1._