THROUGH FINLAND. 
345 
the month of June; but the place moll particularly calculated 
for enjoying this fpe&acle, is the church of Lower Tornea, fituated 
on the ifle Biorkon, about a mile from the town. Befides feeing 
the fun entirely above the horizon at this point of view, the eye 
commands the environs of Tornea, the two mountains Bakamo 
and Korpekila, and the town itfelf, which is built upon the little 
ifland, or rather peninfula, of Swenfar. The houfes, and the 
church with its fleeple, being reflected from the fmooth furface 
of the river, afford a very pleafing picture. 
Merchant fliips, that fail up the gulf of Bothnia, may come 
almofl clofe to the town; and indeed, anciently, Tornea was 
famed for its excellent harbour. The fand, which the fea carries 
into the northern parts of the gulf, feems to threaten ruin in the 
courfe of time to the trade of this province : for it appears to me 
certain, almofl to demonflration, that the ports of Tornea, Ulea- 
borg, and fome other places in the northern quarter of the gulf, 
lofe in depth of water every year. 
This town was founded in confequence of an order of Charles 
IX. when he pafled through this province in the year 1602 . The 
articles of their export trade are butter, tallow, falted and dried 
meat, falted and fmoked falmon, flromingen, which are a fpecies of 
fmall herrings,* planks, and timber for building, tar, fkins of rein, 
'deer, foxes, wolves, ermines, and of other animals belonging to the 
country, with a vail quantity of birds. The articles they import 
•* Clupea harengus minor; membras veterum. 
Vol. I. Y y are 
