THROUGH FINLAND. 
373 
wind, and we afcended, with the help of a fail, amidft falls and 
rocks, where we expe&ed every moment to go to the bottom. It 
requires a moft accurate knowledge of the bed of the river to 
venture on this navigation ; and for this reafon it is but prudent 
to change boat and boatmen at each village, as the peafants are 
all perfectly mailers of the channel in their refpedtive bounds. At 
certain intervals you will find in the whole breadth of the river 
but one opening where the boat can pafs, and whoever is not ap¬ 
prized of it will probably run his boat amongft a thoufand rocks 
without fucceeding, but not without the moil imminent danger 
of perifhing. 
Having arrived at Kattila Kofki, the boatmen took down their 
fail and Ihewed us their addrefs in afcending againft the rapid 
current of the cataradls. Kattila Kofki is a long feries of water¬ 
falls, formed by the ftony bed of the river, and by huge rocks 
which rife above the furface of the water. Thefe catara&s are 
particularly famous on the map, as being the place which cor- 
refponds to that divifion of the globe known by the name of the 
Polar Circle. To afcend in a fmall boat fuch a formidable fuc- 
ceffion of cataradls, where the water is almoft every where roll¬ 
ing down in foam, would at firft fight feem impoffible ; but no¬ 
thing is impoffible to man, whom habits have rendered familiar 
to danger. Thofe Finlandilh Laplanders, belides an addrefs pe¬ 
culiar to themfelves, have what perhaps is of flill more confe- 
quence—the moft perfect coolnefs and apathy. They take their 
places, one at the head and the other at the ftern of their canoe, 
and 
