with their underwood, and fome firs, difpcrfed -on the hill by the
river fide. All thefe feemed to vegetate with difficulty, as if deprived
of their nouriihment by the mofs, and appeared withering .
and ftunted. Some trees, indeed, which grow very near the
water, had the appearance of being in a flouriihing ftate, perhaps
owing to the moifture they derived from the river : but, in fhort,
this mofs appeared to be the royal plant, which ruled- abfolute
over the vegetable kingdom of the country, and diftributed its •
bounty and influence amongft a particular race of men and animals.
W e arrived at Lappajervi in the evening, and our boatmen
were glad to take ibme reft after their wearifome voyage. When
we arrived on the borders of the lake, we fell in with two Lapland
filhermen, who had returned from their day’s fifhing, and
were preparing to pafs the night there. W e were guided to the
fpot where they were by a large column of fmoke, which mounted
into the air. On approaching them we found that they had be-
fmeared their faces with tar, and covered their heads and fhoulders
with a cloth to protedl themfelves from the mufquetoes. One of
them was fmoking tobacco, and the other was fecuring the fifh
they had taken from the depredations of the infedts. Their
meagre and fqualid looks difcovered evident figns o f wretchednefs.
They were covered from head to foot by fwarms o f mufquetoes,
from whole flings their clothing fcarcely Ihielded them. They
were melting with heat, yet they durft not throw off their covering,
much lefs remove from before the fire. Our arrival added
millions
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