THROUGH LAPLAND. 
121 
covered us with fnow or fleet. For twelve hours we travelled 
without intermiffion, except when we found it neceflary to take 
fome refrefliment, before we regained the river Alten. The fear 
of a change of the weather, or of a ftorm, accelerated our march : 
nor did we indulge ourfelves in either long or frequent paufes, 
during a journey that could not be lefs than fifty Englifh miles. 
We arrived at laft at the fame place where we left the Laplan¬ 
ders of Kautokeino with their boats, and who waited in order to 
conduct: us back to Kautokeino. We had fent a meflenger to 
apprize them of our return, and to engage them to come there 
to meet us againfi that day. A northerly breeze faved our boat¬ 
men the trouble of rowing againfi; the current. Some branches 
of the birch-tree, at that fieafon in full leaf, fet up in the poop s 
fupplied the want of a fail. 
Having arrived at Kautokeino, we were under the necefiity of 
making another long journey on foot, as far as Enontekis, which 
place we wiflied to take into our route. The way was not then 
known to be practicable, never having been attempted before. 
The mountains which feparate Enontekis from Kautokeino, are 
not half fo high as thofe which divide Alten Gaard from Mali; 
but we were deftined to encounter as great difficulties here as on 
thofe of Norwegian Lapland, We had to ford rivers; we were 
infulated by morafles; we were bewildered in deferts. Our good 
Laplanders knew no more the place in which they were than we 
ourfelves: their opinions on this point were divided ; and, but for 
the direction of our compafs, we fhould have incurred the rifk of 
Vol. II. R wandering 
