EAST BOTH LAND. loJ 



venture to have any windows, only shutters 

 in their stead ; indeed they seem to be as 

 fond of darkness as owls. I peeped into 

 one of these liouses through a shutter, and 

 within was perfect darkness. Nevertheless 

 there were several children and other per- 

 sons in the dwellino;. I could distino;uish 

 nothing but what seemed to me a pair of 

 glaring fiery eyes, like the devil, in a sort 

 of large jug. On looking more attentively, 

 I perceived that the object before me was 

 actually a jug or pot, in which I had al- 

 ready remarked that they were accustomed 

 to carry lighted embers, when wanted, to 

 their neighbours. 



I am sure the peasants of Smoland often 

 make a fire sufficient to roast them alive, 

 though their houses are furnished with 

 chimneys, and their fires are made, as at 

 this place, with small pieces of wood. To 

 say the truth, few persons can be of opi- 

 nion that such excessive heat, in the winter 

 of this very severe climate, can be whole- 

 some. 



1 have alrcadv mentioned that the inha^ 



