half way the noife o f the river, which is heard at a coniiderable
diflance, fuggefted to us the idea o f a cataract; and having, in
confequence o f this circumflance, traverfed a wood, with a pea-
fant for our guide, we came to the place from which the found
proceeded, and found that it was occafioned by the vehemence
and rapidity o f the river forcing itfelf through a narrow paffage.
Here we fell in with two or three parties fifhing for falmon, and
we helped them to draw a net, which contained five or fix fifh of
very confiderable fize.
T h e common method o f catching falmon in the North is by
driving a palifade, w h ich . extends from one bank as far as the
middle o f the river, and fometimes even to the oppofite fide:
between the flakes o f the palifade they put branches .of trees, or
perhaps net-work, which hinder the falmon from afcending the
ftream, and leave only one opening where the fifh may pafs
through, but where they have placed a net which is ready to receive
them. It is not permitted to make their lax-pata, the Fin-
landifh term for the palifade, longer than a certain meafure, and
they pay in proportion to its length, and alfo its proximity to the
mouth o f the river; for fuch as are high up the river can only
catch the falmon that efcape all the fifhers below them. This
palifade, or. lax-pata, is always fet where the river is moil noify,
and where it forms a fall. The people o f the country fhew an incredible
dexterity in walking along thofe flakes, which the force
o f the current fhakes in a furprifing manner: women and children
trip over them with wonderful adroitnefs and facility. W e wifhed
to
to give them our affiflance in drawing their nets, and by a great
exertion o f courage, we got over almofl one third o f the palifade,
but i f one o f my companions had not defifled in time, his head
becoming giddy by the motion o f the water under his feet, he
muil have dropt into the river. T he children and even the men
themfelves are fometimes too confident o f their agility, fo that
fcarce a year paffes without fome o f them falling in and being
drowned, the current being too itrong for a boat to be o f any ufe
to them.
The addrefs with which the Finlanders drive their flakes into
the bottom o f the river, at places where the current is extremely
rapid, deferves likewife to be noticed, as an operation highly dangerous
as well as difficult, and to which thofe poor people fome-
times fall vidlims.
In getting to this part o f the river we went nearly an Engliffi
mile out o f the road, where we left our horfes. Our guide, who
led us acrofs a fmall wood o f firs by narrow footpaths, was upon
his return to vifit his covv-houfe, which flood in the midfl o f the-
wood. W e could not avoid feeling interefled for this man. He
was feventy-five years o f age, and had ferved in the war o f Pomerania,
or, as it is commonly called, the ieven years w a r : he fpoke
German a little, had been feveral' times wounded, and, as an invalid,
had a piece o f ground affigned to him. In this fpot, fepa-
rated from the world, his induflry had improved his little fortune
fo as to enable him to live comfortably with his wife and children,
and to feed eight cows, whofe good condition afforded him.
infinite pleafure.