8 A SPRING AND SUMMER IN LAPLAND. 



the oak and beechen forests, and over the wide 

 prairies of southern Scandinavia. 



" Whatever," observes Dr. Johnson, " with- 

 draws us from the power of our senses, what- 

 ever makes the past, the distant, or the future 

 predominate over the present, advances us in 

 the dignity of thinking beings." And whoever 

 takes an interest in the early ages of mankind will 

 here find much to occupy his attention and his 

 thoughts. The rude implements of the chase and 

 the barbarous weapons of warfare which are still 

 preserved, carry the mind back to -distant ages, 

 when the battle and the chase formed man's con- 

 stant or only employment. Huge barrows and 

 cairns, and rude but stupendous monuments of 

 stone mark the site of many an ancient battle-field, 

 or the last resting-place of the old Scandinavian 

 warrior and king ; whilst rude hieroglyphics, cut 

 on the rocks in many places of these coasts, are 

 mementos at the present day, of those savage 

 barbarians who in the early ages of Christianity 

 spread fire and desolation over so great a portion 

 of Europe ; when the " Viking" or pirate ves- 

 sel spread her sails to the wind, and bore the 

 " Yikinger" or dreaded sea pirate to the opposite 

 shores of Britain. 



Our task, however, is with the present, and 

 not the past ; and it only remains for us to add, 



