48 TRAVELS 
When one tumbled down, the whole line of march was flopped ; 
when the word halt was given, all the caravan threw itfelf on the 
ground; and it was not without much entreaty that we could 
get the individuals of it to raife themfelves again on their legs. 
We were nearly fix hours in going fix miles. At length we 
reached the borders of a fmall lake called Kevijervi, on the right 
of which a chain of mountains extends itfelf, and forms the 
boundaries of Finmark, or Norwegian Lapland, and Swedifli 
Lapland. On the border of this lake we found two boats which 
were in a mofl fhattered condition, full of leaks, with oars that 
were fplit and of unequal lengths. Thefe boats were built by 
the Laplanders, and left in the place mentioned, buried in fnow 
during the winter, and expofed to all weathers. Such w r ere the 
boats in which we were now to crofs this lake, about a mile 
over, and the only conveyance that could poflibly be procured 
for this purpofe. Two Laplanders rowed, and two more fcooped 
out the water, which flowed in at feveral leaks as fail as they 
could throw it out: and had they ceafed baling, the boats would 
have filled in a fhort fpace of time, and we fhould all have gone 
to the bottom. Yet, notwithftanding that we were all placed 
in this perilous fituation, we obferved, not without great indig¬ 
nation, that our Lapland rowers plied their oars, and pulled as 
leifurely, and with as much phlegmatic calmnefs, as if there had 
not been the leafl: occafion for their exertion. 
CHAPTER 
