170 THE FOREST LANDS OF FINLAND. 



of the University of Helsingfors ; and as he spoke English 

 fluently, and was going on with us, he was soon on sociable 

 terms with all the Americans on board. Two hours or 

 more were spent very pleasantly with this party, visiting 

 points of interest at Hango, which is little else than a long, 

 narrow, rocky promontory, with a railway station and a 

 few summer hotels. It is somewhat noted as a place of 

 fashionable resort in the warm season, and has considerable 

 quarries of red granite. Upon an island some distance in 

 front the "Russian flag floats over a strong fortification, 

 that would meet the first attack from a foreign naval 

 power. The other lady of the party was the wife of the 

 Governor at Tavastehus, who assured us of his kind 

 reception upon arriving at that place. 



' From the map purchased at Abo, and by the aid of 

 Professor D., we got a very intelligent idea of the com- 

 munications of the country, and upon our landing at 

 Helsingfors we received from him and his brother, who 

 was the American Vice-Consul, the most courteous atten- 

 tions, and most excellent advice. The city is the capital 

 of Finland, and has a population of about 46,000. Besides 

 containing the only university in the country, it is the 

 centre of considerable commerce and inland trade. Fin- 

 land, although subject to Russia, is in every thing but 

 military dependence, self-governing throughout. The 

 Emperor is ex officio the Grand Duke, but every thing is 

 left with a local Governor and Parliament. They have 

 their coinage, their postal service, their import duties, and 

 their finances, quite independent of Russia, and the country 

 shows many traces of the laws and customs of Sweden, to 

 which before 1809 it belonged. 



' We received from Professor Doner a letter to General E. 

 d'Ammondt, of the Emperor's suite, Governor of the Pro- 

 vince of Harnenleena, and as we got seated the next morning 

 in the railway car for Tavastehus a young Russian military 

 officer took his seat in front. He inquired in English if 

 the writer was not going to Evois ; and at every station 

 where we stopped he was at our side. He mentioned the 



