PITHOEA. 209 



I grasped at the cloud before me, my 

 hands were filled with myriads of these in- 

 sects, all crushed to pieces with a touch, 

 and by far too minute for description. The 

 inhabitants call them Knort, or Knott, 

 {Cukx repta?is, by mistake called Cpu- 

 licaris in FL Lapp. ed. 2. 382.) 



Just at sunset I reached the town of Old 

 Pithoea, having previously crossed a broad 

 river in a ferry boat. Near this spot stood 

 a gibbet, with a couple of wheels, on which 

 lay the bodies of two Finlanders without 

 heads. These men had been executed for 

 highway robbery and murder. They were 

 accompanied by the quartered body of a 

 Laplander, who had murdered one of his 

 relations. 



Immediately on entering the town I pro- 

 cured a lodging, but had not been long in 

 bed before I perceived a glare of light on 

 the wall of my chamber. I was alarmed 

 with the idea of fire ; but, on looking out 

 of the window, saw the sun rising, perfectly 

 red, which I did not expect would take 

 p 



