194 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINNAEUS 



The most important place in this region after Mar- 

 strand is Lysekil, another watering-place at the end of a 

 long peninsula ; far away beyond another archipelago of 

 islets, ranged beltwise on each side, the fawn-coloured 

 rocks varied by hues of pink, red, and shades of grey, 

 and patches of turf alternating with small white beaches ; 

 the grey sky, and sea like frosted silver, and nests 

 of little red-painted, shingle-roofed hamlets, mingled 

 with more genteel, white-painted, tile-roofed houses, 

 chalet-shaped and ornamental. One wonders how they 

 get supplies. The islands are more scattered here ; or 

 rather, our way winds through the outer edge of the 

 archipelago ; the inshore line is formed of moderately 

 high grey hills. Lysekil is a pleasant little watering- 

 place, to my mind preferable to Marstrand. It is vastly 

 proud of its bathing-establishment, which has every 

 modern requirement for dipping and swimming, and a 

 fine music-room lo! with an Erard grand piano (how 

 did it get here ?), a balcony for the orchestra, and a good 

 floor for dancing. The straggling village, or town, has 

 picturesque points of view here and there ; but its grand 

 quality is its fine air. It would be hard to beat that any- 

 where. Consul Mollen did good to Lysekil by asking 

 the king, when told to request a favour in return for 

 his majesty's entertainment, to have it made a leaping \ 

 not quite a town, it seems, but with certain town privi- 

 le^es. There is another bathing-village in the rocky 

 belt opposite ; but it is not so gay as Lysekil, which is 

 most festive with its chalets and flags. 





