It had originally been my design to go to Asila Lapmark, in order to
observe what plants are able to endure the very hard winters of that
region, but I was obliged to change my plan. The summer would not have
been long enough, nor my stock of money sufficient to enable me to reach
that most northern part of the country, where the severity of the
climate is augmented by the cold north wind and the vast snowy
mountains. I applied, therefore, to baron Grundell, governor of Umoea,
for a passport to the nearer parts of Lapland, which was immediately
granted. This gentleman showed the greatest readiness to befriend me,
and appeared to take much interest in the success of my undertaking. He
gave such orders as might cause the public officers in Lapland to lay no
obstacles in my way, but rather to assist me by every means in their
power. He himself gave me much curious information, and showed me his
own garden, that I might observe what plants would stand the winter
here: concluding by expressing, in the most flattering terms, his
approbation of my appointment.
_May 25._
The following morning I set out on my way towards Lapmark. Leaving the
highway, I came to one of the most unpleasant roads I ever travelled. It
was covered with stones, betwixt which were thick entangled roots of
trees, and among them were deep holes full of water. The whole ground
was a marsh, which the frost was at this time just about quitting. Large
pine-trees, that had been blown down in the course of the stormy winter,
frequently crossed my path; and the more flexible birches, weighed down
by the snow, interrupted my course on all sides. I frequently came to
such steep heathy places that my horse could scarcely climb or descend
them, and in the bottoms between them were marshy tracts, with rivulets
destitute of bridges, so that my beast slipped down several times; and
as I passed the streams, the water reached up to my saddle. I then
regretted, what I had in the former part of my journey so much detested,
travelling on the high-way on these stumbling horses, and would rather
have descended the steepest hill in Angermannia than have chosen the
present road, for at every step the horse took, I thought he would have
fallen.