THE FIR TRIBE. 



329 



Pine appears to have been held sacred by the 

 Assyrians. Mr. Layard informs us that on the 

 sculptures discovered by him during his excava- 

 tions at Nimroud^ the ancient Nineveh, there 

 are many representations of figures bearing a Fir- 

 cone. 



Descriptions of the most remarkable species of 

 Fir introduced into Britain (for we can claim one 

 only as a native) will be given under their several 

 heads. The following general remarks will, 

 nevertheless, be read with interest : — 



" If the reader will cast his eyes on the map of 

 Sweden, and imagine the Gulf of Bothnia to be 

 surrounded by one continuous unbroken forest, 

 as ancient as the world, consisting principally of 

 Pine-trees, with a few mingling specimens of 

 Beech and Juniper, he will have a general and 

 literally correct notion of the real appearance of 

 the country." 



^^As we proceeded to Hamrange, we passed 

 through noble avenues of trees, and saw some 

 fine lakes on either side of the road. Some of 

 the forests had been burned, by which the land 

 was cleared for cultivation. The burning of a 

 forest is a very common event in this country ; 

 but it is more frequent towards the north of the 

 Gulf of Bothnia. Sometimes a considerable part 

 of the horizon glares with a fiery redness, owing 

 to the conflagration of a whole district, which, for 

 many leagues in extent, has been rendered a prey 

 to the devouring flames."* 



Sometimes the monotony of the Pine barren 

 was interrupted in no very pleasant style by the 

 heat and smoke arising from the forest being on 



* Dr. Clarke. 



