32 HELSINGLAND. 



wise in a hill near the water which was 

 nine ells in height. 



The strata of this hill consisted of two 

 or three fingers^ breadths of common vege- 

 table mould ; then from four to six inches 

 of barren sand {^Arena Glarea); next about 

 a span of the violet claj ; and lastly bar- 

 ren sand. The clay contained small and 

 delicately smooth white bivalve shells, 

 quite entire, as well as some larger brown 

 ones, of which great quantities are to be 

 found near the water side. I am therefore 

 convinced that all these valleys and marshes 

 have formerly been under water, and that 

 the highest hills only then rose above it. 

 At this spot grows the Anemone Hepatica 

 with a purple flower ; a variety so very rare 

 in other places, that I should almost be of 

 the opinion of the gardeners, who believe 

 the colours of particular earths may be 

 communicated to flowers. 



I observed that the mountains, after the 

 trees and plants had been burnt upon them, 



