in j and as it was exceedingly dark, and the weather very tcin-
peftuotts, we could not find any waterman who would venture
to convey us acrol's the lake. We were unwilling to return to,
Rhamn&tz j and it was not without great difficulty we could:
obtain admittance into a pealant's cottage. Although die hovel,
which lheltered us was wretched, yet a comfortable firefide and
fome clean ftraw appeared abfolute luxury to us, pierced with
cold, and wet with travelling the whole day in open carts ex-
pofed to the inceflant rain.
September 24. The windy weather continuing, and the morning
appearing cloudy and inclining to ihowers, we fent for poft-
horles, propofed returning to Rhamnaetz, and proceeding by land
to the mines of Dalecarlia, without vifiting the remaining parts
of the canal, when we were agreeably prevented by the unexpected
arrival of Mr.. Berger, infpefitor of the works at Skantze.
He brought compliments from Mr. Alftroem, who was lorry
he was not at home when we called at his houfe, and had now
dilpatched his inlpeCtor to offer his lervices, and accompany us
to Viiiboe and Vaeftanfors. We readily accepted this kind offer,
and rowed over to Viiiboe, delightfully fituated on a promontory
which projects into the lake.. Being hofpitably treated by Mr.
Ulberg, infpeCtor of the iron forge belonging to Baron Silver-
fchiolde, we embarked in a fix-oared boat, in company with
Mr. Berger, who fleered. The wind blew very hard, and direCtly
contrary, fa that our boatmen were employed five hours in rowing
againft wind and current the fpace of fifteen miles. This.part
of
of the navigation from Virlboc to Va:ftanfors is entirely com- cha p .
plete; and indeed boats have failed from Vaeftanfors to the be- 1 .___ j
ginning of the works at Traengfors. We rowed acrofs levcral
lakes, and afcended the currents of the rivers which join them.
The lakes arc very beautiful: of thefe the Ameningen is about
twenty-fix miles, and the Stora Alpen twenty, in circumference.
The expanfe of water is broken with many woody iilands, and
their fliores are fringed with trees growing to the margin of the
water, and interfperfed with villages.
After five hours rowing againft the wind, we at length reached
Vasftanfors, and landed near the houle of Mr. Bedouar, proprietor
of an iron foundery. We difpatched our Swedilh fervant to procure
us a lodging, and order what could be prepared for our
dinner. While we were waiting in the cold the return of our
meflenger, Mr. Bedouar came out. He was informed, he
laid, by Mr. Berger, that we were Englilh gentlemen upon
our travels, and had letters of recommendation from Baron
Sparoe; either of thofe circumftances were fufficient inducements
to him not to fuffer us to look out for a lodOff inOe
elfewhere than in his houfe; that we ihould find but bad accommodations
in the village, and that he would ablblutely take
no refufal. Although extremely unwilling to give fo much
trouble to a perfon with whom we were wholly unacquainted, yet
we could not rejeCt an invitation fo politely made, and lo ftronglv
enforced. We accordingly took pofleffion of very comfortable
apartments, which, our landlord added, were ours as long as we
chofe