304 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



not much frnaller than thofe which ply between 

 Rouen and Paris. They arc conftruded of fir planks 

 from two to three inches thick, fometimes two feet 

 broad, and whofe length is that of the whole barge. 

 The Ruffian carpenters of the cantons where they 

 are built, make only a fingle plank out of one 

 tree, timber being in fuch plenty there, that they 

 do not take the trouble to faw it. 



Before I had travelled into northern countries, 

 I took it for granted, in conformity to the laws of 

 our Phyfics, that the earth muft there be ftripped 

 of every thing like vegetation, by the rigor of the 

 cold. I was very much aftonilhed to find there 

 the largeft trees I had ever feen in my life, and 

 growing fo near each other, that a fquirrel could 

 eafily fcamper over great part of Ruffia, without 

 touching the ground, by fprlnging from branch 

 to branch. This vaft forell of fir covers Finland, 

 Ingria, Eftonia, the whole fpace comprehended 

 between Peterfburg and Mofcovv, and thence ex- 

 tends over a great part of Poland j where oaks be- 

 gin to appear, as I know from actual obfervation, 

 having travelled through thefe countries. But 

 what 1 have feen is a very fmall part only of thefe 

 immenfe forefts, for it is well known that they ex- 

 tend from Norway all the way to Kamfchatka, 

 fome fandy deferts excepted ; and from Breflau to 

 the fliores of the Frozen Ocean. 



I fliali 



