176 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINN&US 



tying it up into a roll that may be grasped by a man's 

 arms, which, if necessary, they carry with them to the 

 place where they mean to sleep the night following. If 

 it becomes too dry and compressed, its elasticity is re- 

 stored by a little moisture. 



1 June 12. I took my departure (from Umea 1 ) very 

 early in the misty morning. The sun appeared quite 

 dim, wading, as it were, through the clouds. Andro- 

 meda polifolia was at that time in its highest beauty, 

 decorating the marshy grounds. The flowers are quite 

 blood-red before they expand, but when full-grown the 

 corolla is of a flesh-colour. Scarcely any painter's art 

 can so happily imitate the beauty of a fine female 

 complexion ; l still less could any artificial colour upon 

 the face itself bear a comparison with this lovely 

 blossom. As I contemplated it I could not help think- 

 ing of Andromeda as described by the poets, which 

 seemed so applicable to the plant before me, that if 

 these writers had had it in view they could scarcely 

 have conceived a more apposite fable. This plant is 

 always fixed on some turfy hillock in the midst of the 

 swamps, as Andromeda herself was chained to a rock in 

 the sea which bathed her feet, as the fresh water does 

 the roots of the plants ; dragons and venomous serpents 

 surrounded her, as toads and other reptiles frequent the 

 abode of her vegetable prototype, and, when they pair 

 in the spring, throw mud and water over its leaves and 

 branches. As the distressed virgin cast down her blush- 

 1 A Swede can judge of fine complexions. 



