SYSKON-SANG. 311 



several instances, so near the fires, that lighted brands were 

 cast at them hy the people ; one, indeed, carried away some 

 live coals in his shaggy hide ! 



" But towards morning all was still. At day-light, we 

 found that in the darkness of the preceding evening the circle 

 had been so much contracted, that the people could not fire 

 with safety, and in consequence I now caused them to fall 

 back considerably ; but in spite of the noise caused by this 

 operation, the imprisoned beasts did not show themselves. 



" Fully convinced, however, that they had not escaped us 

 during the night, I now led a small party of men to a dense 

 brake within the Ring where I had reason to believe they 

 might yet skulk for the purpose of forcing them on the 

 line. So soon as this movement took place, two large bears, 

 four wolves, and three lynxes, as likewise a multitude of 

 hares, that had here had their Syskon-sang,* then appeared ; 

 and as the guns had been put in order during the night, they 

 were received with a very heavy fire from all sides. I myself 

 shot the largest bear, and afterwards two lynxes and three 

 wolves. Within half an hour all the beasts were killed. 

 Including those shot the preceding evening, the returns con- 

 sisted of three capital bears, seven wolves, and three lynxes." 



" Summer Skall, near to Ullen, in the parish of Rada, 

 and Elfdahls Hiirad, 16th of September, 1823. 



* Syskon (for which there is no equivalent in English) means brothers and 

 sisters collectively. Syskon-s'dng implies a temporary bed of straw, or what 

 not, on the floor of an apartment or out-building, occupied by the sexes 

 indiscriminately. Dming my wanderings in the northern forests, it often 

 happened that several of us, strangers to each other, when taking shelter 

 under a friendly roof, and when proper accommodation was wanting, thus 

 l>ii, r irnl loo-el her. 



