380 THE SCOTCH FIR, OR PINE. 



remarks : " There is not the smallest difference between 

 a tar-work in the forests of Westro-Bothnia and those of 

 Ancient Greece. The Greeks made stacks of Pine, and 

 having covered them with turf, suffered them to burn in 

 the same smothered manner ; while the tar, melting, fell 

 to the bottom of the stack, and ran out by a small channel 

 cut for the purpose." 



The country people of Scotland obtain tar by a method 

 similar in principle to that above described, although 

 differing slightly in the details. They hew the wood into 

 billets, put these into a pit dug in the earth, and ignite 

 them ; the top is covered with rude tiles ; and the tar, as 

 it leaves the wood, flows out through a small orifice at the 

 bottom of the pit. When pitch is to be made, the tar is 

 put into large copper vessels, and is then suffered to boil 

 for some time ; the volatile part flies off, and what remains, 

 when cold, hardens and becomes pitch. 



In seasons of scarcity, the bark of the Pine is converted 

 by the Swedish peasants into bread. 



" In the character of the Swedish peasant many traits 

 present themselves well worthy of imitation in the other 

 ranks of society. Placed in a part of the world where 

 the influence of winter is felt for more than half the year, 

 and where the general barrenness of the soil must subject 

 him to great privations, he is, notwithstanding, cheerful 

 and contented. In the northern parts, where the early 

 approach of the frost, even in the midst of summer, some- 

 times cuts off the whole of his scanty crop, and deprives 

 him of his winter provision, he finds bread even in the 

 heart of the forest ; and with the bitter bark of the Pine, 

 beaten till it is reduced to a fine pulp, he continues to 

 support existence, living by means of this unpalatable food 

 where others would die. Fortunately, it is only in years 

 of great scarcity that he is compelled to have recourse to 

 these means ; nor did I, during my travels in the N'orth, 

 ever meet with this harke brod, or bark bread, used as 

 food by the poorer classes. Hard as his fare is at all 



