222 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINNAEUS 



worked over six hundred years. For the more complete 

 exploration of the province they occasionally divided 

 themselves into two bands. Some of them now took 

 the northern road by way of Biursa's on the Rogsjo. 

 The rest travelled by way of Junsta and the lakelet of 

 Innsjo. The peculiar and primitive population of these 

 valleys are among the handsomest of the Swedish race ; 

 they still retain their national dress, and are proudly 

 independent in their faithful adherence to their ancient 

 customs. This was less remarkable to Linnaeus than it 

 is to us, as at that time the Swedes in general resembled 

 in costume and manners the Dalecarlians of the present 

 day. A long boat loaded with about seventy of the 

 Dalfolk, coming across the Innsjo to Brednas with a 

 wedding-party, seemed a signal for a halt, and our 

 travellers joined the holiday-makers in the spirited and 

 delightful Dalecarlian dances. 



The four most interesting parishes of Dalecarlia are 

 Leksand at the southern and Mora at the northern end 

 of the Siljan Lake ; Rattvik, at the end of the large 

 bight, extending north-easterly ; and Orsa, on the lake 

 of that name, which is, in fact, a part of the Siljan 

 before its volume is increased by the tribute of the 

 Ost-Dal River. The population of these valleys is 

 about 170,000. Besides their farm-work they make 

 extensively (in their own houses) basket-work, clocks, 

 watches and tools ; likewise bells, furniture, grindstones, 

 &c. ; in all of which Sandel the oeconomus was vastly 

 interested possibly because some of the appleblossom- 



