groves, and ships: but it is not so large as Umeå. We visited the apothecary of the place; from whose door the view of woods and water was so pleasing, that it might be compared with the most enchanting scenes in Italy. His little stock of books shewed him to be a man of letters, although they were principally confined to writings relating to his profession. His house, moreover, convinced us that an attention to elegance and comfort was not neglected here. Diseases are not frequent at Piteå: the most terrible is the small-pox, which, for want of inoculation, had caused dreadful ravages. The Laplanders, who resort hither for their traffic during winter, if they hear the slightest report of this disorder being in or near the place, betake themselves instantly to flight, leaving their business unsettled.

CHAP.
VII.

CHAP. VIII.

PITEÅ TO TORNEÅ, AT THE NORTHERN EXTREMITY OF THE GULPH OF BOTHNIÅ.

Dr. Solander-Gamla Stad-First Intelligence of AcerbiChange in the Language-Process for obtaining TarLinnæa Borealis-Remarkable Willow-Erstnäs-Wood Nymphs-The Lure, or Trumpet for calling CattleLuleå River-Minerals-Gamla Luleå-Church of the Peasants-Forlorn condition of the symbols of PoperyInscriptions-Geographical Division of the CountryLanguage of Lapland-Persön and Rone-Tar WorksHvita-Character of the Natives-Remarkable Fall of

Dew

Dew-Baron Hermelin-Iron Mine of Gellivara—
Journey from Tore to Malmsbyn-Finlanders-Grotnäs
-Organized Remains in Trap-Boundary of the Finnish
Language-First sight of Torneå-Appearance of the
Town-Description of the Streets-Shops-Commerce-
Lake Enara-Annual Expedition of the Merchants—
Price of Commodities-Condition of the Inhabitants-
Population-Biörkön Church-Houses of the Merchants
-Aubry de La Motraye-Myessein or Missne-Prima-
val Bread of all the Northern Nations.

der.

THE celebrated Solander, who accompanied Cap- CHAP. tain Cooke in his voyage of circumnavigation, VIII. was a native of Piteå: his mother, a Lapland Dr.Solanwoman, sold to Dr. Nazén, of Umeå, a copy of the Flora Svecica of Linnæus, which contained Solander's manuscript notes, in his own handwriting. This volume Dr. Nazén presented to the Author, and it is still in his possession. The notes are principally references to botanic authors; or marginal annotations for exhibiting the names of the species opposite to the different genera. Among the crowd of female gazers drawn out in the court-yard of the post-house, to witness our departure, we could not help fancying that we beheld the mothers of many a future Solander. It was Sunday, and they had on their best attire. Every one of these women held a small Bible before her, wrapped in a

VIII.

Gamla
Stad.

ligence of Acerbi.

elean handkerchief, carefully folded over the sacred volume. After we left Piteå, the scenery continued to be exceedingly fine, for a considerable distance. We passed through Old Piteå, called Gamla Stad, signifying the old town. Here, for the first time since we left Stockholm, we heard of First intel- Signor Acerbi, and his companions, Signor Bellotti and Colonel Skiöldebrand; all of whom we afterwards met. The two Italian gentlemen were described to us as upon a journey towards the North of Lapland, attended by a Colonel in the Swedish service; and it was added, that they were travelling for purposes of science. At Ojebin, we found the Swedish language beginning to alter. The people spoke a dialect so impure, that our interpreter with difficulty could make himself understood. The inlets of the Gulph everywhere appeared of the grandest character; surrounded by noble forests, whose tall trees, flourishing luxuriantly, covered the soil, quite down to the water's edge. From the most southern parts of Westro-Bothnia, to the northern extremity of the Gulph, the inhabitants are occupied in the manufacture of tar; proofs of which åre visible in the whole extent of the coast. The Process for process by which the tar is obtained is very simple: and as we often witnessed it, we shall now describe it, from a tar-work which we halted

obtaining

Tar.

to inspect, upon the spot. The situation most favourable for this process is in a forest near to a marsh or bog; because the roots of the fir, from which tar is principally extracted, are always the most productive in such places. A conical cavity is then made in the ground (generally in the side of a bank or sloping hill); and the roots of the fir, together with logs or billets of the same, being neatly trussed into a stack of the same conical shape, are let into this cavity. The whole is then covered with turf, to prevent the volatile parts from being dissipated, which, by means of a heavy wooden mallet, and a wooden stamper, worked separately by two men, is beaten down, and rendered as firm as possible above the wood. The stack of billets is then kindled; and a slow combustion of the fir takes place, without flame, as in making charcoal.

(1) The Wood-Cut at the beginning of this Chapter represents, The conical aperture in the earth, to receive the timber; as appears on the right-hand side of the Engraving.

A rampart of timber is seen placed against the orifice from which the tar flows; behind which is a channel leading to the bottom of the conical aperture or furuace.

A vessel of cast-iron is placed at the bottom of the conical aperture or furnace which receives aud carries off the tar as it falls; a figure of which is seen on the left-hand side.

The timber is placed in the cone or furnace ;-which the men are beating down.

And the instruments for beating and pressing the surface of the furnace, when filled, appear resting against the mound to the left of the Engraving.

CHAP.

VIII.