360 



THE SCOTCH FIR OR PINE. 



character, surrounded by noble forests^ whose 

 tall trees, flourishing luxuriantly, covered the soil 

 quite down to the water's edge. From the most 

 southern parts of Westro-Bothnia to the northern 

 extremity of the gulf, the inhabitants are occupied 

 in the manufacture of tar, proofs of which are 

 visible along the whole extent of the coast. The 

 process by which the tar is obtained is very sim- 

 ple ; and, as we after witnessed it, we shall now 

 describe it from a tar-work we halted to inspect 

 upon the spot. The situation most favourable to 

 the process is in a forest near to a marsh or bog, 

 because the roots of the Scotch Pine, from which 

 tar is principally extracted, are always most pro- 

 ductive in such places. A conical cavity is there 

 made in the ground (generally in the side of a 

 bank or sloping hill) ; and the roots, together with 

 logs and billets of the wood, being neatly trussed 

 in a stack of the same conical shape, are let into 

 this cavity. The whole is then covered with turf, 

 to prevent the volatile parts from being dissipated, 

 which, by means of a heavy wooden mallet, and a 

 wooden stamper, worked separately by two men, is 

 beaten down, and rendered as firm as possible 

 above the wood. The stack of billets is then 

 kindled, and a slow combustion of the kiln takes 

 place, as in making charcoal. During this com- 

 bustion, the tar exudes ; and, a cast-iron pan being 

 fixed at the bottom of the funnel, with a spout 

 that projects through the side of the bank, barrels 

 are placed beneath this spout to collect the fluid 

 as it comes away. As fast as these barrels are 

 filled, they are bunged, and are then ready for 

 immediate exportation. From this description it 

 w^ill be evident that the mode of obtaining tar is 



