i 



LiNNiEus. ;5 



the gnats and other insects tortured the unhappy 

 travellers, till at length he exclaims — "I had now 

 my fill of travelling ! " 



Gladly would he have returned by the way he 

 came, but he could find no road back ; and even 

 the hardy Laplanders themselves, " born to labour, 

 as the birds to fly," could not help complain- 

 ing, and declared they had never been in such 

 extremity before. It is evident that even the 

 robust frame of Linnaeus was beginning to yield 

 to the combined effects of fatigue, exhaustion, and 

 hunger. He at length obtained some food which 

 he was able to eat, and after incredible exertions 

 succeeded in retracing his steps to the river, on 

 which he again embarked, and returned to Umoea ; 

 having, as he ingenuously acknowledged, " with the 

 thoughtlessness of youth, undertaken more than he 

 was able to perform." 



From Umoea, Linnaeus proceeded to Pithoea, 

 which he reached after two days' journey, "the 

 night being as pleasant for travelling as the day." 

 He notices the beauty of the fresh shoots of the 

 spruce fir, which constitute one of the greatest 

 ornaments of the forests which adorn this part of 

 Sweden. 



Being anxious to proceed with all haste, in order 

 if possible to reach the Alps of Lulean Lapland, 

 " in time to see the sun above the horizon at mid- 

 night, which is beheld then to the best advantage," 

 the traveller made no longer stay at Lulea than 

 was needful for the purposes of exploring the 



