LINN^US. 



213 



sea, examining the various objects that presented 

 themselves. In the evening he arrived at the house 

 of Mr Rask, the pastor of Torfjorden, who received 

 him with much kindness. When day dawned he 

 proceeded on his voyage, but was obliged by a con- 

 trary wind to put about and return to the place 

 from which he had sailed. On the following morn- 

 ing, having climbed one of the neighbouring heights, 

 he was resting on its side, when he heard the re- 

 port of a gun, the ball from which struck a stone 

 quite near him. It was fired by a native, whose in- 

 tention, it would appear, had been to murder him, 

 although, as he presently took to flight, no informa- 

 tion could be obtained respecting his motives. 



On the 15th of July he set out on his return 

 from the low grounds of Norway, and began to 

 kscend the snowy mountains, accompanied by an 

 interpreter. He directed his course towards the 

 Alps of Tornea, which were described as about forty 

 miles distant; but having for several days endured 

 the greatest fatigue and privation, he doubted the 

 expediency of advancing farther, especially as he 

 made few discoveries in natural history. He there- 

 fore, on the 23d, took leave of the mountainous 

 part of Lapland, and returned by water towards 

 Lulea. In this tract he had abundant opportuni- 

 ties of observing the peculiar characters and man- 

 ners of the inhabitants, which he cursorily details 

 in his journal. On the 26th he reached a place 

 called Purkijaur, where he in vain attempted to 

 procure a boat to descend the river. His attendants 

 and he were therefore obliged to make a raft, on 

 which they embarked ; but they had not proceeded 

 half a mile when the force of the current separated 



