b'U MEMOIR OF LINNjEUS. 
though it abated my hunger, it did not recruit my 
strength. Finding it impossible to proceed in that 
direction, I was at last obliged to return the way I 
came, though very unwillingly, heartily wishing it 
might never he my fate to see this place again. It 
was as bad as a visit to Acheron.” 
His descriptions of the habits and manners of 
the people are sometimes amusing. “ All the 
Laplanders (says he) are of a small stature, and 
of a thin slender make. I never saw one of them 
with a large belly : they do not eat much at a meal, 
hut take food from time to time as they feel inclined. 
On the other hand, the peasants of Finland cram 
themselves with as many turnips, and those of 
Scania with as much flummery, as their stomachs 
can possibly receive. The inhabitants of Dalecarlia 
eat till their body is as tight as a drum. The 
Finlanders (about Tomea) are all blear-eyed, to 
such a degree as to be nearly blind. I saw many 
of them who were perfectly deprived of sight ; and 
ninety-nine out of a hundred that were so, had 
their eyes shut. It seems in vain to prescribe any 
remedy for this evil, so long as its cause is every 
where so prevalent. This consists in their smoky 
dwellings. If I had the management of these 
Finlanders, I would tie them up to the wall and 
give them fifteen pair of lashes a piece till they 
made chimneys to their huts, especially as they 
have such plenty of firewood. This improvement 
in the comfort of their dwellings, might surely he 
