THROUGH LAPLAND. 
35 
millions of thefe flies to the myriads already there, as their num¬ 
bers were continually increaflng in our paifage thither. It was 
impoffible to Hand a moment Thill ; every infhant we were forced 
to thruft our heads into the midfh of the fmoke, or to leap over 
the flame to rid ourfelves of our cruel perfecutors. 
We drew our boat alhore, and walked about a mile into the 
country to vifit the families of thefe two Lapland fifhers, who had 
fixed their conflant habitation there. We found fires every where 
kept up: the pigs had their fire, the cows had theirs; there was 
one in the infide of the houfe, and another without, clofe to the 
door. The Lapland houfes are not fo large as thofe of the Fin¬ 
landers. The door-way of the one we faw here was only four 
feet high, fo that we found it neceflary to {loop as we entered 
We had left our tent behind us, fuppofing we fhould find accom¬ 
modation to pafs the night with the Laplanders, and that it would 
at leafl be equally good as that we had met with amongft the 
Finlanders; but we found ourfelves difappointed: however, we 
were forced to put up with what convenience the people could 
offer us; and therefore, when it was time to retire to reft, we 
were accommodated with rein-deer fkins, laid over fmall birchen 
twigs and leaves, which were fpread on the ground, in a fmall 
apartment filled with fmoke. We groped our way into our bed¬ 
chamber, becaufe the fmoke hindered us from feeing any light. 
Some time after we had laid ourfelves down to fleep, I heard a 
breathing, which feemed to proceed from a corner of the room, 
and which we were unable to account for, as we fuppofed our- 
F 2 felves 
