bridge, made themfelves extremely merry at our folly in fpending
powder and lead on birds which in their minds were o f little or
no value. But as they remarked our ferious air and feeming dif-
appointment at miffing them, they began to imagine that they
might oblige us by killing fome on their fide, and bringing them
to us. Prefent'ly we faw one o f them fetch out his gun, and,
after firing his (hot, creep over the bridge to prefent us with
one o f thofe birds. I thanked him, but obferving that the bird
wanted the head, I made him underftand that this Circumftance
rendered it not defirable to me, and that I wiihed to have it entire.
I examined his gun, which I found had an old r 111 c■ barrel,
but of a very fmall bore, and that it was with a ball he had killed
the bird. I then ihewed him the fmall ihot, and made figns to
him that he fhould charge his piece with this. T he honeft pea-
fant was not a little affoniihed at the fight o f my fmall lead, which
probably he had never feen before. He declined my offer, and
loaded as ufual with ball, but intimated to me that he would
bring me another bird with its head. My friend departed, fired
his piece, and brought me a bird o f the fame fpecies, which, that
he might have it as entire as poffible, he had but ilightly grazed
under the throat. I was much furprized at the precifion of his
aim, but was afterwards aifured that all the peafants ihoot with
thofe rifle-guns, and that they hardly ever mifs their mark;
that they fend quantities o f water quails and other birds killed in
this manner to Stockholm; and that they prefer this kind o f
fowling-piece to any other on account o f its narrow bore, which
is found to carry to a confiderable diftance, and to require but a
very fmall charge.
Before taking leave o f Yervenkyle we wiihed to be made acquainted
with the oeconomy o f our hoft, and to afk him fome "
queftions refpeding the expences o f his family, and the price o f
provifions in this part o f Finland. Wood cofts but the trouble o f
outting.it down and tranfporting it. T he wages o f day labourers
are high, being from twelve to fixteen ikillings. Our honeft pea-
fant had the appearance o f being very much at his eafe, W h a t
pleafure it is to.'fee a happy peafantry ! He had fix cows, which
had produced him as many calves, and eight goats. T he fmall
twigs o f the birch tree, which the goats feed on in winter, give a
delicious odour to the place in which they are kept. He had be-
fides. eight lambs and three horfes. T he cows afford him a pail of
milk each day. A cow is fold for five or fix rix dollars, a calf for
two, a goat for one, a roebuck only cofts fixteen ikillings. Wheat
does not thrive here, rye is five and a half rix dollars the barrel.
W e afked him if he had ever eaten bread made o f the bark o f a
tree, or if he had ever been obliged to feed his cows WLth their
own dung, mixed and feafoned with a little fait, meal and ftraw;
but he had been fortunate enough not to have experienced any o f
thefe hardfhips. T he Darlicarlians, however, have been reduced
to iuch -extremities on different occaiions.
The farmfteadi o f this good and happy man confifted o f the
houfe, which he himfelf occupied with his family. T o the right
o f this there was a fmall building, cxprcfsly allotted to ftrangers,
V o l . I. G S