THE DREAM FULFILLED 147 



Skiula Mountains, the high plains of the island Caro- 

 lina, 1 the unusual form and structure of the Kierker- 

 sian fountains in Gland,' &c. 



' Consider also the marble-like strength of ice. 

 And yet in this inclement climate grain of all sorts is 

 observed to spring forth sooner, grow quicker ' [through 

 the longer sunlight], ' and ripen in less time than in 

 any other part of the world. 2 In few places is there 

 found a more varied and abundant flora. Lapland 

 alone furnishes me with a hundred rare plants' the 

 pleasures of the peaceful chase. 



1 Whoever desires to contemplate the stupendous 

 metamorphoses of sea and land will scarcely find any- 

 where a more convenient opportunity than in the south 

 and east parts of Gothland ; where the rock-giants, as 

 they are called, seem to threaten heaven ; and where 

 the epochae of time, the years, the ages, if I may so say, 

 are as it were carved out in a surprising series upon 

 the seashore, and the ground above the shore.' We 

 must remember that this was said before our modern 

 geological discoveries and researches made reading the 

 great cosmic clock of the universe on the face of rocks 

 and cliffs a current and habitual idea. 



' There is scarcely a place where there are so many 

 different kinds of food as here.' The superficial tra- 



1 Stora Carlso. 



2 Barley grown at Purkyaur in Lapland 1731, sown May 31, ripe 

 July 28 fifty-eight days. Rye sown May 31, ripe and cut August 5 

 sixty-six days. Flora Lapponica. 



L 2 



