WESTBOTHLAND. 83 



barren. They resembled the ridges of a 

 field, except the perfect flatness and grea 

 breadth of the surface of each, and their 

 beins: destitute of stones. The interstices 

 of the country between these embanked 

 heaths were occupied by water, rocks 

 and marshes, producing abundance of firs 

 intermixed with some birches, all covered 

 with black and white filamentous Lichens. 

 Juniper bushes but rarely occurred, and 

 were all of a very diminutive size, and 

 close-pressed to the ground. 



At Skullbacken is a small current of 

 water, which rises out of the ground at that 

 very spot. I tried to feel the bottom with 

 my stick, but could not reach it. 



At Abackan, and on the road beyond it 

 for a considerable way, some loose ice still 

 remained, which surprised me much at this 

 season of the year ; yet I recollected that 

 but a week before I had met with snow in 

 the neighbourhood of mount Skula. 



Here and there on the road lay a crusta- 

 G 2 



