THROUGH FINLAND. 
22 5 
is found to carry to a confiderable diftance, and to require but a 
very fmall charge. 
Before taking leave of Yervenkyle we wiflied to be made ac¬ 
quainted with the oeconomy of our hoft, and to afk him fome 
queflions refpedting the expences of his family, and the price of 
provifions in this part of Finland. Wood cofts but the trouble of 
cutting it down and tranfporting it. The wages of day labourers 
are high, being from twelve to fixteen {killings. Our honeft pea- 
fant had the appearance of being very much at his eafe, What 
pleafure it is to fee a happy peafantry ! He had fix cows, which 
had produced him as many calves, and eight goats. The fmall 
twigs of the birch tree, which the goats feed on in winter, give a 
delicious odour to the place in which they are kept. He had be- 
fides eight lambs and three horfes. The cows afford him a pail of 
milk each day. A cow is fold for five or fix rix dollars, a calf for 
two, a goat for one, a roebuck only coffs fixteen {killings. Wheat 
does not thrive here, rye is five and a half rix dollars the barrel. 
We afked him if he had ever eaten bread made of the bark of a 
tree, or if he had ever been obliged to feed his cows with their 
own dung, mixed and feafoned with a little fait, meal and flraw; 
but he had been fortunate enough not to have experienced any of 
thefe hardfhips. The Darlicarlians, however, have been reduced 
to fuch extremities on different occafions. 
The farmftead of this good and happy man confifted of the 
houfe, which he h.imfelf occupied with his family. To the right 
of this there was a fmall building, exprefsly allotted to {bangers, 
Vol. I. G g in 
