TOUR IN SKANE 277 



Linnaeus on landing made his way across-country 

 to Orebro, whence he embarked again on the Hjelma- 

 ren Lake for Eskilstuna, now called the Swedish Shef- 

 field. It was then a mere village, though there were a 

 few metal-works in that day, established by a Livonian 

 from Riga, attracted by the fine water-power. At that 

 time there were few of the neat streets that we see 

 now, and factories were well-nigh unknown, except a 

 few saw- mills by the rapids, which have mostly disap- 

 peared before a more lucrative industry. The town is 

 clean and quiet, much of the iron-work being executed 

 at the workmen's own cottages The fine new tech- 

 nical school, built of white stone, is externally clean 

 and quiet also. The church stands sequestered by 

 the shady river banks. It was founded by Eskil, the 

 English archbishop of Lund ; l hence the town's name 

 Eskilstuna. The church doors are kept open, though 

 guarded by pretty wrought-iron gates, through which 

 one can peep at the elaborate black and white pulpit 

 and general interior of the church. It is prettiest 

 seen in this way. Beyond the pleasant quiet church- 

 yard the river is crossed in several places by bridges of 

 various builds, chiefly primitive forms of suspension- 

 bridge, to the village of the factories, where there is 

 plenty of noise of anvils, saws, and waterfalls. 



From here Linnaeus took a boat, a gaily beflagged 

 vessel containing a pleasure-party crowded, of course, 

 with friends bidding farewell to parting friends and 

 1 Appointed by Nicholas Breakspear, Pope Adrian IV. 



