302 TRAVELS 
“ In a fumrner feafon when fet was the fun, 
<c I fchope me to fhrubs, as I a fheep were, 
tc In an habit as an hermit unholy of works, 
“ Went wide in this world wonders to hear, &c» 
Thus in the following poem in the Finnifh tongue: 
Nuco nuco pico linto 
Weffi weffi welter eki. 
In the Englifh lines the allitteration of the two firft are of the 
letter S, of the third H, of the fourth W; and in the Finnifh the 
letter N in the firft, and W in the fecond. Verfes compofed in 
rhyme were of later introduction; and when they fall in naturally 
with the runic, are not rejedted ; but ftill they are not effential to 
the latter, and are therefore not fought after. The repetition of 
the initial letters is very pleafant to ears which are accuftomed to 
it, and it is moreover perfe&ly agreeable to the genius of the Fill" 
nidi language, and of great affiilance to the memory. 
Runic poetry has been from the moft ancient times cultivated 
by the peafants of Finland, particularly by thofe who inhabit 
Qilro-Bothnia, and the territory of Cajanaborg. On the fea-coafts 
in the neighbourhood of Sw 7 eden, there are few Finlanders who 
underftand or recite them, and fewer who compofe them. The 
peafants acquainted with this poetry prefer the oldeft fpecimens; 
and many of this clafs, unaffifted by letters, through the fimple 
efforts of genius alone, aided by pra&ice, are able to compofe 
runic 
