HU MEMOIR OF LINNAEUS. 



though it abated my hunger, it did not recruit my 

 strength. Finding it impossible to proceed in that 

 direction, I was at last obliged to return the way I 

 came, though very unwillingly, heartily wishing it 

 might never be my fate to see this place again. It 

 \vas as bad as a visit to Acheron/' 



His descriptions of the habits and manners of 

 the people are sometimes amusing. " All the 

 Laplanders (says he) are of a small stature, and 

 of a thin slender make. I never saw one of them 

 with a large belly : they do not eat much at a meal, 

 but take food from time to time as they feel inclined. 

 On the other hand, the peasants of Finland cram 

 themselves with as many turnips, and those of 

 Scania with as much flummery, as their stomachs 

 can possibly receive. The inhabitants of Dalecarlia 

 eat till their body is as tight as a drum. The 

 Finlanders (about Tornea) are all blear-eyed, to 

 such a degree as to be nearly blind. I saw many 

 of them who were perfectly deprived of sight ; and 

 ninety-nine out of a hundred that were so, had 

 their eyes shut. It seems in vain to prescribe any 

 remedy for this evil, so long as its cause is every 

 where so prevalent. This consists in their smoky 

 dwellings. If I had the management of these 

 Finlanders, I would tie them up to the wall and 

 give them fifteen pair of lashes a piece till they 

 made chimneys to their huts, especially as they 

 have such plenty of firewood. This improvement 

 in the comfort of their dwellings, might surely be- 



