WASTGUTA RESA ROUND LAKE VENERN 193 



fishermen are scattered promiscuously about the rocks ; 

 and there are actually a few poor wretched cows in a 

 grassy patch in a cove a patch looking about the size 

 and texture of a door-mat ; there is a patch of colza, 

 near a cottage on the opposite island shore. A small 

 boulder, or else a pile of stones, is perched on the highest 

 tips of all the rocks, and the natives have exercised their 

 invention in making landmarks of all shapes and colours 

 whitewashed, red-painted, tarred black, or striped, 

 or dotted. This coast is fairly well peopled ; for, after 

 all, it is easier to live near the sea where they can get 

 about by boat, than inland where it is a stony roadless 

 waste. Yonder is another fishing village, out seawards, 

 and another landward, a little further off. ( I never see 

 such a proper sight of rocks in my life ; it's enough to 

 starve a rabbit.' 



The rocks afford a fine study of lichens and stone- 

 crop. By-and-by another village peeps out behind a 

 corner, with a church and a mill, and red houses, on piled 

 stone legs, built right out into the sea among the boats, 

 an amphibious village, and so on, still sailing through a 

 maze of islands. This is a journey of many hours, a 

 whole long Swedish day. Though the nights are short 



repose is necessary. ' D all shenery, I say ; where's 



my boat ? ' says Mr. Slick. Linnasus mentions BlSkulla, 

 a high mountain and landmark for sailors, with shep- 

 herds' (?) huts on the heights, its highest point towards 

 the east. I could not recognise this island, nor find the 



name on any map, while, as for shepherds ! 



VOL. n. o 



