44 
TRAVELS 
were the moil filthy and difagreeable that it is pofifible to con¬ 
ceive. They held the fifli they were eating in their hands, and 
the oil that diftilled from it ran down their arms, and into the 
fieevcs of their coats, which might be fcented at the diftance of 
fome yards. The girl had rather more cleanlinefs in her perfon,. 
and fome portion of that decency which is fo peculiar to her fex. 
This was apparent in her refufing the drink that was offered to 
her, and efpecially brandy, of which fhe was in reality as fond as 
the men. This affectation of modefty and reluCtance in women 
to poffefs what they wifh for, but which at the fame time they 
apprehend would be unbecoming, appear to be qualities inherent 
in the fex, fince this prudery is obfervable even among women 
in Lapland. 
We now fet about landing our baggage, and fettling accounts 
with our honefi: Finlanders, who had faithfully and duly attended 
us from Muonionifca, and brought us fafely fo far on our journey. 
We had conceived a great regard for thefe worthy men; and we 
perceived, on parting with them, a tear of affeClion ftealing down 
their cheeks, which demanded a fimilar acknowledgment. They 
took leave of us, returning their thanks, and taking us by the 
hand ; and fo ftrongly did we feel in our own hearts the like 
cordiality of fentiment, that we could not refufe them fuch a 
token of familiarity and regard. The Laplanders, notwithftand- 
ing the natural phlegm of their temper, did not remain inatten¬ 
tive obferversof the fcene that was paflfing before them, and could 
not but derive from it a favourable opinion of us, and even find 
*■■■■ theit 
