THROUGH FINLAND. 
227 
CHAPTER XV. 
Departure from Yervenhyle—Progrefs through a large Forejl — Dan¬ 
ger to he apprehended from Wolves—Veftiges of a Conflagration 
in the Wood—Frequency of thefe Conflagrations, and the Caufes 
thereof—Devajlation occafoned among the Trees of the Forefl hy 
Storms—Road through the Forefl; its Inconveniencies—Faff age 
over the Ice ; the Fears and Alarms with which it is attended —- 
The generous Simplicity of fome Peafants who ferved as Guides. 
leaving the village of Yervenkyle, we came upon a wood 
or forefl, famous in Finland for its fize, and particularly its 
vafl length, which is about eighty Englifh miles. We had to 
traverfe it in its full extent, and I was inclined to compofe my- 
felf to ileep the whole way, in order to elude the irkfomenefs of 
a road that promifed fo little variety, and that I might make 
a proper ufe of the fullen gloom caufed by the thicknefs of 
the trees. Befides, I was confident that neither robbers nor 
beafls of prey would interrupt my repofe ; the firfl being un¬ 
known in the country, and the fecond rarely fo preffed with 
hunger as to become bold enough to fet upon travellers. The only 
wild beafls to be dreaded in this wood are the wolves, which 
even when flarving will not venture to attack a man, though they 
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