THROUGH LAPLAND, 
2 3 
this mountain feemed to us rather extraordinary, but our friend 
the parfon was unable to explain its meaning, nor could he ever 
give us any thing like a plaufible etymology of the term. Our 
defign in this excurfion was to have a view of the furrounding 
country from the top of that mountain, to collect, as we went 
along, plants, birds, infeCts, and fhells from the bed of the river; 
to make a drawing of any piCturefque objeCl that might prefent 
itfelf, and to fall in with tome wandering Laplander watching 
his rein-deer, which paffure in the glens and vallies of thofe 
mountains. We had no choice as to our manner of travelling, 
and were obliged to proceed by water to the very foot of the 
mountain. Having failed down the river Muonio, we went up 
the fmall river Jeres, which runs into the Muonio, three miles 
from Muonionifca. This little river flows for the greateft part in 
a peaceful ftream, and fpreading itfelf at certain fliort intervals, 
forms charming little lakes, traverfing a country the moll pleaf- 
ing and diverfified poffible. Birds, and efpecially wild-ducks, 
fwarm on this river, and afforded us a very fingular kind of fport. 
In certain places the channel becoming narrow, the willows and 
other trees of the oppofite banks unite and entwine their branches, 
fo as to compofe a fpecies of bower, which fkreened us from the 
rays of the fun. The wild-ducks frequently flew into thofe re- 
ceffes, but not thinking it prudent to venture far amongft the 
trees, made a precipitate retreat: on their return they paffed di¬ 
rectly over our head, and offered us the bell; opportunity poffible 
for fhooting. This river exhibited the fineft feenery a painter 
could 
