78 MEMOIR OF LINNAEUS. 



was disappointed. The fire scorched me on one 

 side, while the cold north wind pinched me on the 

 other ; and the gnats so stung my hands, face, and 

 legs, that it was impossible to sleep. Thus I re- 

 mained in expectation of my conductor, who had 

 set out in search of another, till two o'clock in the 

 afternoon. I could not help thinking how miserably 

 I might have to end my days here, in case he should 

 think proper to desert me entirely. 



" At length he returned quite spent with fatigue, 

 and having made inquiry at many of the huts, but 

 in vain. He brought with him a person whose 

 appearance was such, that at first I did not know 

 whether I beheld a man or a woman. I scarcely 

 believe that any poetical description of a fury could 

 come up to the idea which this Lapland fair one 

 excited. It might well be imagined that she was 

 truly of Stygian origin. Her stature was very di- 

 minutive ; her face of the darkest brown, from the 

 effects of smoke ; her eyes dark and sparkling ; her 

 eye-brows black; her pitchy-coloured hair hung 

 loose about her head, upon 1 which she wore a flat 

 red cap. She had a grey petticoat ; and from her 

 neck, which resembled the skin of a frog, were 

 suspended a pair of large loose breasts of the same 

 brown complexion, but encompassed, by way oi 

 ornament, with brass rings. Round her waist she 

 wore a girdle, and on her feet a pair of half- 

 boots. 



" Her first appearance really struck me with 



