FOBEST BAMBLES. [Nov. 



FOBEST BAMBLES. 



In Finland. 



EOGEAPHEES have stated that, in proportion to the area of 

 its territory, Finland comprises within its limits a larger extent 

 of land covered with water than any other country in the 

 world. A tour either in the north or south of the Grand Duchy 

 inclines one to accept this statement without question, and to supple- 

 ment it with an expression of opinion that such part of the country 

 as is not covered with water may fairly be said to be covered with 

 forest, AVhether the traveller proceeds by steamers up the Gulf of 

 Bothnia to Uleaborg or Tornea, or up the Gulf of Finland to 

 Helsingfors or Wiborg, he skirts a coast-line clad with a dense growth 

 of Pine and Fir far as the eye can reach. As is to be expected — 

 bearing in mind the fierce gales which strike these northern shores 

 during the long winter, when every seaport is sealed up by King 

 Frost, and the vast area of the Gulf of Bothnia is covered with 

 thick ice— the trees are small and stunted ; but the stoutness of their 

 growth leads one to look for grand forests in the interior of the 

 country ; and in this respect the traveller will not be disappointed. 

 Those who desire to learn something of the extent and value of these 

 forests should consult the interesting work on the timber resources of 

 the Grand Duchy recently published by Dr. J. C. Brown, which 

 deals with the subject in an exhaustive manner. The following notes 

 must be taken as those of a traveller, not of a forester, and may 

 perhaps help to lead others to explore a country which at present 

 may be said to be virtually unknown to Englishmen. 



The routes from England to Finland need not here be described : 

 suffice it to say that I made my way thither via Hull, Gothenburg 

 and Stockholm. From the Venice of the North several lines of 

 steamers are available, some steering up the Gulf of Bothnia, others 

 up the Gulf of Finland. My friend, E. C. H. D., and I chose the 

 latter route, and leaving Stockholm at seven in the evening, and 

 being favoured by a brilliant full moon, which allowed of our steamer 

 threading her way all night long amongst the countless thousands of 

 islands, crossed the Baltic and were alongside the wharf at Abo at 

 midday. Getting under way again at eight in the evening we 

 rounded the south-west points of Finland at early morning in a fresh 

 gale, and at four in the afternoon were steaming up to Hel- 

 singfors past the forts of Sweaborg. Thence twelve hours by rail 

 landed us in St. Petersburg. The country passed through is flat, 

 so flat, indeed, that in places one can scan the entire horizon 



