8 
TRAVELS 
deep in the mofs, that we thought we ffiould be immerfed in it 
up to our necks. We fometimes met with places fo deep and 
boggy, that it was highly dangerous to fet a foot upon them. The 
branches everywhere intercepted our paffage, while the veils we 
wore on our faces, to prote& them from the Rings of infers, 
caught hold of the branches, and were in danger of being torn in 
pieces by every twig. Tall fir and pine-trees, which the wind 
had levelled with the ground, and which time had almofi: con¬ 
verted into duft, lay fcattered in the woods. We wiihed to 
efcape the embarraffiment of the mofs, by ftepping along the 
trees that lay in our way; but we found their fubftance generally 
fo rotten and decayed, that now and then they fuddenly gave 
way under our feet, and we could with difficulty fave ourfelves 
from falling. 
In this manner we had travelled about two Engliffi miles, when 
notice was given us that the cataracts were become fo formidable, 
that there was no chance of carrying the boats farther up the 
river. To proceed without our boats was not to be thought of, 
it being impoffible to get to Muonionifca but by croffing the 
river Muonio; and befides, there was another fmaller river at the 
oppofite fide. The only expedient we had left was to haul the 
boats on ffiore, and to drag them about two miles through the 
woods, where we would come to a part of the river more quiet 
and prafticable for failing on. Simon was the firfl to embrace 
this refolution; and without knowing that we had travelled on 
the fea drawn by horfes, he propofed that we ffiould travel 
over 
