THE PINE. 45 



his loss to the burning of the opposite forest, which 

 had compelled the bear to pass the river for food." 



On the southern shores of the Baltic there are also 

 extensive pine-forests. These are chiefly situated to 

 the east of the Vistula, on the whole of the sandy 

 tract that lies between the rich corn valley of that 

 river and the flax and hemp valley of the Dwina, and 

 stretches back into the central parts of Russia. The 

 soil upon which this forest grows is almost wholly 

 sand, and the surface is in consequence compara- 

 tively level, nor does any of it lie at a great elevation 

 above the sea. The river Memel is the principal 

 channel by which this timber is conducted to the 

 sea, and Memel is the port at which it is chiefly 

 disposed of. Much of the timber of Memel is ex- 

 ported in logs that are only squared by the axe ; and 

 masts and spars of Memel timber are much esteemed. 

 In the haafs or low-lands on those shores of the 

 Baltic, amber is found in greater abundance than in 

 any other part of the world ; and it is considered 

 that it may be the turpentine of decayed pines changed 

 by the length of time it has been buried in the earth. 



The northern slopes of the Alps, and the secondary 

 mountains in the south of Germany, abound in pines, 

 and the Rhine and Danube (the principal upper 

 branches of the latter rise in the Alps) are well 

 adaj)ted for conveying the timber to the lower dis- 

 tricts, where it is valuable. The mode of conveying 

 the timber on the Rhine in immense rafts is very 

 curious. The following account of these rafts is by 

 the Author of " An Autumn near the Rhine" : — 



" A little below Andernach, the little village of 

 Namedy appears on the lefl bank, under a wooded 

 mountain. The Rhine here forms a little bay, where 

 the pilots are accustomed to unite together the small 

 rafts of timber floated down the tributary rivers into 

 the Rhuie, and to construct enormous floats, which 



