THROUGH LAPLAND. 
59 
We now prepared for our journey to Kautokiono, under the 
confolatory reflection that we fliould henceforth efcape the obfta- 
cles and fatigues we had hitherto met with from the adverfe cur¬ 
rents of the rivers. This was the RrR time we had feen any river, 
whofe waters w r ere in their progrefs to lofe themfelves in the im- 
menfe extent of the Frozen Ocean, If we .had been oppofed by 
Rich catara&s as thofe of Muonio, it w r ould, doubtlefs, have been 
impoffible for us to have proceeded any farther. But happily the 
dangers to be encountered in the cataraCls of the river of Pepojo- 
vaivi, were not unproportioned to the \vant of vigour and fk.il! of 
the Laplanders, who were to be our attendants. Thofe feeble, 
auk ward, and hclplefs beings, were embarrafled and at a ftand on 
the lead; difficulty ; and every Rone to them feemed a mountain. 
The llate of their boats was deplorable ; their oars were difpro- 
portioned to one another, and without any regular form. They 
were no other than Ricks of w T ood cut and hacked into fomething 
like an oar, in the moR negligent manner. Lazinefs and Rupi- 
dity were prominent in all the Laplanders did, in all that apper¬ 
tained to them. The only things that they w T ere able aChvely to 
perform, were to keep up an everlaRing chatter, to fmoke their 
pipes, to chew tobacco, and to drink brandy. 
I 2 
CHAPTER 
