214 
TRAVELS 
The town had been anciently built on a fpot fituated a quar¬ 
ter of a mile diftant from where it now ftands: it dates its origin 
from the introduction of chriftianity into this country. After be¬ 
ing nearly confumed by fire, it was rebuilt, and put under better 
regulations, by the care and attention of Peter Brake, Rikfdrots and 
governor-general of Finland, about the middle of the feventeenth 
century. There was formerly a mint at Abo. In the time of 
popery this town had two monafleries within its precinCls. From 
the year 1/14 until 1721 , Abo remained under the dominion of 
the Ruffians, from whom it experienced the moll cruel treatment. 
In the year J 7-43, at the conclufion of peace between Ruffia and 
Sweden, this city was finally delivered from the feverities and 
dangers to which it had been expofed. 
The caflle, in the language of the country called Abo-hus or 
Abo-flot, is fituated at the mouth of the river Aura, upon a cape 
bounded on three fides by the water: this is one of the moft an¬ 
cient fortrefies of the country. It was well fortified under the 
kings, Albrecht, Charles VIII., Knutfon, and Guftavus Vafa. Be- 
fides four towers, which were deffmed to oppofe the approach of 
an enemy to the harbour, it had on the fouth fide a high wall 
with a triple rampart of earth, and a double ditch. A new build¬ 
ing has been added to the old RruClure, but in a different ftyle of 
mafonry. Abo-hus was the refidence of Duke John, and the 
prifon of King Eric XIV. in the fixteenth century. The old 
caftle, which contains a church and a confiderable arfenal, is con- 
ffruCled of brick walls extremely folid, and furrounded by fmall 
earthen 
