200 A SPRING AND SUMMER IN LAPLAND. 



ing in England, but never anything like the 

 extraordinary machines I saw on this morning. 

 I would have given a trifle to have picked out six 

 of the most antediluvian, and placed them for 

 exhibition in the Field window. The process of 

 loading commenced ; and when I saw misfitting 

 bullets hammered down upon charges of blasting 

 powder which would try the best English barrel, 

 and examined the locks, half of which would not 

 stand at half-cock, and many at hardly any cock 

 at all, while some triggers were without any 

 guards — I realty considered that it would be 

 indeed a miracle if no serious accident happened 

 this day. One old backwoodsman begged me to 

 examine his lock, upon the construction of which 

 he much prided himself. It seemed to be altogether 

 destitute of a scear, but with a famous mainspring. 

 Of course, a trigger was useless in such a piece of 

 machinery ; and he explained to me, that when he 

 fired he had nothing to do but draw up the cock 

 sharply, and let it fall again on the cap. I was 

 well pleased when the examination concluded, for 

 I expected every moment, as he was fiddling with 

 the lock, that the gun would go off in his hand. 

 These peasants are in the highest degree inquisi- 

 tive, and my gun and appointments were all 

 critically examined, even down to the very buttons 

 of my shooting-coat. I was armed with a small 



