i86 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINNAEUS 



of measuring its height. While I was reposing tran- 

 quilly on the side of the hill, busied only in loosening a 

 stone which I wanted to examine, I heard the report of 

 a gun at a small distance below. I was too far off to 

 receive any hurt, but perceiving the man who had fired 

 the gun, I pursued him to a considerable distance in 

 order to prevent his charging his piece a second time. 

 I could get no explanation of this attack. 



1 1 saw no flies in Lapland, but in Norway the houses 

 are full of them. I was, however, no longer infested 

 with swarms of gnats. 1 



4 On July 15 we set out on our return, and that 

 whole day was employed in climbing the mountains 

 again, the ground being extremely steep as well as lofty. 

 It is customary for those in our part of Sweden who 

 fancy themselves indisposed to frequent watering-places 

 or mineral springs during the heat of summer. For my 

 own part I have, thank God, for several years enjoyed 

 tolerable health ; but, as soon as I got upon the Alps I 

 seemed to have acquired a new existence. I felt as if 

 relieved from a heavy burthen ; and after having spent 

 a few days in the low country of Norway, though with- 

 out having committed the least excess, I found my 

 languor or heaviness return. When I again ascended 

 the Alps I revived as before. The Lapland water, too, 



1 Du Chailln says until the end of June there are no gnats.' I 

 suspect they are local, for I have seen them in swarms on May 29, 

 and I have passed in previous and following weeks through many 

 provinces of Sweden without seeing any gnats at all. 



