TRAVELS 
3 2 
As no rain had fallen in this country for fome time, the water was 
fo fhallow, that the boat ran aground, and it became neceflary to 
land in order to lighten it. The windings of the river were fo 
frequent and fo contrary, that our progrefs was very tedious. Our 
boatmen were obliged to undergo great labour in moving the boat 
forward : fometimes they were compelled to get out and tow it; 
at other times to lift it up and carry it on their ffioulders to a con- 
fiderable diflance, where the bed of the river w T as nearly dry. In 
addition to the great exertion and fatigue which thefe good people 
had to bear, they were kept conflantly wet; and though their 
toils were exceffive, they advanced but little in their journey, lince 
the curvature of the river would often bring them back to a fmall 
diflance from the place from which they had with fo much trouble 
proceeded. This was mortifying and difeouraging in the extreme. 
We ourfelves, who went on foot along the banks, had no better 
reafon to be fatisfied with our condition. We had every where 
to force our way through bufhes and briars, and it was with much 
difficulty that we could go on at all, being frequently flopped by 
branches of trees, and having the veils tom away which covered 
our faces, and fecured us from the attacks of the mufquetoes. 
However, the fudden change of feene, and the view of the coun¬ 
try, together with the novelty of manners and appearance in the 
inhabitants, made us in fome meafure amends for thefe hardfhips 
and inconveniencies. 
Before we arrived at Lappajervi, we halted for fome time on a 
rock of confiderable fize, which was feparated by the river from 
the 
