Near the road grew _Glaux_ (_maritima_), as well as the Narrow-leaved
Sea Plantain (_Plantago maritima_), and Small-leaved _Angelica_ (_A.
sylvestris_). On a bank I observed _Triticum maritimum_. (This last is
thought by Dr. Afzelius to be _Elymus arenarius_. See _Fl. Lapp. ed._ 2
_n._ 34.)
Here various plants, which I had found blossoming at Um[oe]a, were now
laden with fruit, as the _Mesomora_ (_Cornus suecica_), _Vaccinia_
(Whortle-berries), _Chamæmorus_ (_Rubus Chamæmorus_, Cloud-berry), and
_Chamærubus_ (_R. saxatilis_, Stone Bramble), all which vied with each
other in the profusion of their berries. But little Ling (_Erica_) was
to be seen.
The hills are but trifling. Rising grounds, which had partly been burnt,
were covered with Spruce firs, and even with Reindeer-moss (_Lichen
rangiferinus_).
Towards evening I arrived at Tornea. The weather was fine.
Near Grotnäs, situated opposite to the church of Calix, is a ferry to
convey passengers to this church, adjoining to which the inhabitants of
Lulea and Tornea keep a fair.
The river produces abundance of Flote-grass, which at this time bore its
spikes or heads of flowers. I had long been acquainted with the plant,
it being very abundant in this country as well as in Smoland, and had
wondered what species it could be; especially as I never heard of any
botanist who had met with the fructification. It is a _Sparganium_,
whose leaves are very long, reaching a fathom or two, according to the
depth of the water, and floating on its surface. They are convex at
their back, except in the lower part, which is flat on both sides. (This
plant named _Flotagræs_, or Flote-grass, in Linnæus's native country of
Smoland, is the _Sparganium_ _n._ 345* of _Fl. Lapp._, in the second
edition of which work I have called it _S. natans_, on his own authority
in the _Flora Suecica_ and _Species Plantarum_; but in _English Botany,_
_v._ 4. 273, and _Fl. Brit._ 962, this error is corrected, so far at
least as concerns the original Lapland specimen, which is unquestionably
_S. simplex_, _Engl. Bot._ _v._ 11. _t._ 745, a species he did not, in
his works, distinguish from our common _S. ramosum_, _t._ 744. I am now
persuaded he confounded this _simplex_ with the _natans_ in his Lapland
tour, as well as in his herbarium, where the original specimens of the
two are pinned together.)
_August._ 2
They dry their corn upon drying sheds as is practised in Smoland. The
cross piece is turned towards the south, but the method here differs
from that of the Smolanders in one respect. The latter place one sheaf
on the top of another, but the inhabitants of Westbothnia lay the
sheaves cross-wise, in an alternate order, each thinking their own
method the best for procuring the most complete ventilation. In this
country fifteen sheaves are lodged under each shed, without supporters;
but in Smoland twelve only, ten of which are in the main pile and two at
the sides. The Smolanders therefore are able to reach high enough to
place their uppermost sheaves by hand, but the inhabitants of
Westbothnia find it necessary to be provided with what they term a
_Skyllkrok_, or Rick-hook, consisting of a round pole, with a
transverse projecting piece of wood, (like a direction-post in England,
as appears by the sketch in the manuscript,) by means of which each
sheaf is lifted up.
On a heath very near the river Sangis I noticed some earth of a red
colour. The dry part of the forest which had been burnt down, produced
Reindeer-moss (_Lichen rangiferinus_) in such abundance, that the whole
face of the ground was covered with it.
The evening was fine when I reached Zangis (or Sangis), where I took
leave of my native tongue.
_August 3._
At sun-rise the marshes were all white with hoar frost. In the preceding
night winter had paid his first visit, and slept in the lap of the
lovely Flora. I did not observe that she had suffered from her rude
visitor, except with regard to the _Dracontium_ (_Calla palustris_), the
leaves of which assumed a pallid aspect. The plants latest in bloom at
this place, are _Erica_ (_vulgaris_), the Red-flowered Persicaria
(_Polygonum Persicaria_), and _Hieracium præmorsum_ (_Leontodon
autumnale_, _Sp. Pl._ 1123. _Hedypnois autumnalis_, _Fl. Brit._ 826.
_Engl. Bot. t._ 830.)
On leaving Sangis, I left my mother-tongue behind me. At Saris I met
with native Finlanders only, whose language was unintelligible to me.
Here grew the _Masarooth_ (_Selinum palustre_) with a proliferous umbel.
The mouse-traps used here are made like those for catching squirrels;
which I have already described.
Between Zeivis (perhaps Saris) and Tornea are three ferries to pass. In
my way I noticed a new species of _Stellaria_ (_Callitriche_), of a
small size, not leafy at the top, erect, not creeping like the _S.
minor_; (see _Fl. Lapp. n._ 2. _var._ [gamma].) It had the appearance of
_Potamogeton graminifolium_ (_gramineum_). (What particular state or
appearance of the _Callitriche_ this might be, does not appear, nor is
it mentioned in _Fl. Lapp._)