THROUGH FINLAND. 
285 
CHAPTER XXI. 
Influence of the northern Climate upon the Manners and Habits of the 
People—Hardjhips of living in the North, when compared to the 
fouthern Countries—Occupations of the Finlanders in Winter — 
Their Methods of catching Fifh—The Chafe of the Bear—Mode 
of f tooting the Squirrel—Dangers that attend the Chafe of the 
Seal—An Inflance mentioned of two Finlanders that were caf 
away upon the Ice while in this Purfuit. 
A TRAVELLER who vifits thofe countries during winter, is 
^ apt to imagine that men, animals, and plants, are all con- 
figned to a profound fleep : nor is it eafy for him to conceive 
whence the natives derive the means of their fubfiftence. Seas, 
rivers, lakes, are all frozen up, and feem to fhut out the neceffary 
refource of hilling ; the birds fly from thefe inhofpitable regions, 
and hence afford no fuftenance; the earth on all fides covered 
with froft and fnow, is here converted into an inexorable prifon, 
confining all her fruits ;—this univerfal nakednefs naturally begets 
in the ftranger an expectation of feeing everywhere poverty, want, 
and wretchednefs: but one who has refided among thefe people 
will find, that they are neither lefs awake, nor lefs aCtive, nor w'orfe 
fed than the inhabitants of the South. The different feafons here. 
as 
