100 
LINNAEUS 
in difficulties for food. Once when the horses were 
allowed to eat the grass near an empty house, the 
travellers were accosted by a peasant from a neigh¬ 
bouring cottage, carrying an axe, and fiercely angry; 
he attacked them as violators, threatening to rouse 
his friends. Neither reason nor money availed, but 
at length he gave way on payment of three dalers 
[four shillings and sixpence]. 
Kjerfsas was the next stage, examining on the way 
three silver mines and a marble quarry. Next day 
at a wayside inn they could get nothing for their 
wants, so they hastened onwards to Orsa. The 
greatest impression made upon the party was the 
wretched state of the people working the grindstones, 
who seldom attained the age of forty, due to the dust 
being taken into their lungs; this was so usual that 
no remarks were made upon it. They were surprised 
at seeing two old men in church, but they were told 
that they were not quarrymen, but a tailor and a shoe¬ 
maker. Near Gulleras they were told of an extra¬ 
ordinary tree, which flowered on the death of Carl 
XII. (30th November, 1718); the country folk called 
it an elm-tree; they found on travelling to investigate 
that the smallest child knew where it grew; on reach¬ 
ing it, it proved to be a common lime-tree, a proof that 
this species was rare in the province. 
The party noted with regret how miserably the 
forests were neglected, and how little use was made 
of them. Thus they found that pines were felled 
solely for their bark, being food for man and beast; 
the trunks were allowed to rot, as no use was made 
of the wood. This state of things was found prac¬ 
tically throughout the tour, and Linnaeus pointed out 
that these logs could be dragged to the Dal-Elf river 
and floated downstream for sale. 
The next day, 7th July, was Sunday, and after 
service, the party was invited by the rector, Magister 
Schedvin, to dinner, the host proving to be a superior 
kind of man. Towards evening they passed on to 
