202 
LINNAEUS 
they wished to investigate the place where coal was 
said to have been found, but the people tried all they 
could to prevent them, though with politeness and 
fair speech. The journey was therefore continued to 
Mockleby, and its alum quarry with its twelve strata, 
where, during the past two years, a fire had been 
burning among the store of alum-shale. Linnaeus 
thought that Oland would have the curious appear¬ 
ance of a fiery mountain in Sweden, should the 
flames spread and kindle the whole of the unworked 
shale. 
During the work of investigation, Linnaeus had 
the ill-luck to be struck by a bit of broken rock from 
the cliff, which bruised him on the left ankle, and if 
he had not been on the alert, the bone of his leg might 
have been hurt, and his foot crushed; he was carried 
back to the inn at mid-day to rest his contusion. 
But Linnaeus not being able to rest, caused a 
giant’s grave to be dug up, in which many bones were 
found, to try and discover if the people in former 
times were taller than now. As the result of several 
measurements, he concluded that the men whose 
bones these were, were evidently four ells long—six 
feet tall. They resumed their journey, but had to go 
farther than they intended, as the inhabitants, though 
forewarned, were afraid of the party. Ultimately the 
Comminister at Ahs took them in, but the pain 
Linnaeus suffered prevented his having a single 
minute’s sleep, no remedies being procurable. 
The next day was Sunday, and a resting day. In 
spite of all the minister could say, the people believed 
the party to be spies, and to guard against ill- 
treatment, they engaged a guide. 
After nursing his foot for two nights and a day, 
Linnaeus went forward, to the southernmost point of 
Gland’s coast, and then by extensive sheep pastures, 
northward by the eastern coast, to where the road 
ended. Many fine botanic and zoologic discoveries 
were made, and Linnaeus was gladdened to come 
