THROUGH FINLAND. 
6 '9'i 
of the Finlander in the very ftrongeft light, is that of the feal, or 
phoca Vitalina of Linnaeus. The feafon of this chafe begins when 
the fea breaks up, and the ice floats in fhoals upon the furface. 
Four or five peafants will place themfelves in an open boat, with 
one trifling maft, fet off to fea, and be more than a month abfcnt 
from their families. Thus they expofe themfelves to all the dan¬ 
gers of the high feas, have a fmall fire which they kindle on a fort 
of brick hearth, live upon the flelh of the feal, which is extremely 
good, and bring home the fat and the fkins. The perils which 
thofe voyagers have to ftruggle with are incredible : they are every 
inftant between mafles of ice which threaten to crufli their bark 
to atoms: they get upon the floating fhoals, and, creeping along 
them, fteal cautioufly upon the feal, and kill him as he repofes on 
the ice. Seven years ago, tw r o Finlanders only fet out in a boat 
for this chafe. Having got fight of fome feals on a little floating 
ifland, they quitted their boat, and got upon the ice, moving on 
their hands and knees to get near them without being perceived. 
They had previoufly faftened their boat to the little ifland of ice 
they difembarked upon; but while they were bufily engaged 
in their purfuit, a gufl of wind tore away their boat, when, meet¬ 
ing with other fhoals, it was broken in pieces, and in a few 
minutes entirely difappeared. The hunters were aware of their ’ 
danger when it was too late : they were now left without help, 
without refource, without a ray of hope, on their little floating 
ifland. They remained two weeks on this frail fragment; the 
heat which diminifhed its bulk, and alfo its prominent fur- 
‘ P p 2 face, 
