THROUGH FINLAND. 
34' 1 
throwing dow r n all the bridges, and overflowing a vafl: tradl of the 
furrounding country. Spring-time, which in other countries is 
the feafon that brings along with it every thing grateful and of 
good prefage, is here the forerunner of misfortune, and frequently 
of the moft terrible difafters. The fnow, as it melts on the tops 
of the mountains, produces enormous fwells in the rivers, which, 
breaking up the ice, hurry along with them vafl; mafles, heaped 
one upon another. Thefe tear down, fweep before them, and 
lay wafte every thing they meet in their courfe which may tend 
to oppofe their violence. 
In going to Tornea you are obliged to crofs in a ferry-boat, and 
leave the horfes on the left bank of the river, which at this place 
is extremely broad and majeflic. At a fmall diftance from the 
fpot where we entered the boat, is the church of Lower Tornea, 
from which there is a fine view of the town, and where we ufed 
fometimes to amufe ourfelves by contemplating the fun at mid¬ 
night. There is a very good inn at Tornea, and we found the hofl: 
extremely civil and obliging. 
CHAPTER 
