Part 7 (1/2)
_July 29._
Tanning of leather is thus performed by the Laplanders.
The scaly cuticle of the birch being first stripped off, the bark is then sc.r.a.ped from the tree and boiled fresh in water, for about as long a time as is requisite to boil fish; being afterwards set by to cool, to a certain degree, that it may not injure the hide by being too hot. The latter, having previously been scalded, by dipping into luke-warm water, is then soaked in the decoction of bark, and the vessel containing it sunk into a hole dug in the ground, at the extremity of the hut. The hide is taken out every day, and softened in luke-warm water, till the hair becomes loose, when it is sc.r.a.ped off by such a knife as tanners use. The skin is then replaced in the tan when cool, without any previous drying, till the third day after the hair comes off, when it is hung up to dry in the shade. When the leather is but half dry, they often cut it up for shoes, which are always made by the women, without any last. The thread used for the purpose is that made of tendons.
Some persons never scald the hide, but sc.r.a.pe off the hair with a knife, soak it a little in water, and then plunge it into the tan.
Near Swartlar I noticed a mineral spring, but whatever may be its qualities, n.o.body has yet made any inquiries concerning them.
The river Lulea divides into two branches, not far above the bounds of Lapmark and Westbothnia, one of which is called the little river Lulea, whose origin is among the mountains towards Hyttan, the other Stor Lulea, running from the alps in Norbattra.
_July 30._
On examining the cultivated Hop (_Humulus Lupulus_), I found the structure of the female as follows. Calyx consisting of an universal involucrum of four leaves, and a partial one, likewise of four ovate leaves, containing eight florets, each of which has an ovate spatha, of a very large size with respect to the rudiments of the fruit. Petals none. Pistils two, horn-like. Stigmas acute. Seed-vessel none, the base of the spatha enclosing the seed, which is solitary.
The sh.o.r.e of the river Lulea produced, in excessive abundance, the Water Sedum (_Tillaea aquatica_); likewise the Aquatic Dwarf Plantain (_Limosella aquatica_). The Spiked Water-gra.s.s, with a bent stem, here grew above other plants, twisting its leaves round them, like a sort of bindweed. (_Alopecurus geniculatus_ . _Sp. Pl._ 89. See _Fl. Lapp. n._ 38.)
The Water Sedum (_Tillaea aquatica_) proved no less plentiful by the sides of the roads.
In the river I gathered an herb, which I was doubtful whether to refer to _Stellaria_ (_Callitriche_), to _Potamogeton_, or to the _Aponogeton_ of Pontedera. (This appears to have been the latter, _Zannich.e.l.lia pal.u.s.tris_.)
I reached the old town of Lulea in the evening.
It rained and thundered violently during the whole night.
_July 31._
This day I had intended to prosecute my journey towards Tornea, but a heavy rain, with tremendous thunder and lightning, confined me entirely to the house.
The wife of the princ.i.p.al clergyman of Lulea, on whose accuracy I have the greatest possible dependance, a.s.sured me that she had, at the posthouse of Biorsio, in the parish of Torp, in Medelpad, seen large quant.i.ties of the Yellow Aconite (_Aconitum lycoctonum_; see vol. 1.
36), collected and boiled for the use of the table, like cabbage. This astonished her very much, as she knew it to be used in Jemtland to poison flies. When she expressed her apprehensions about eating of this herb, the maid-servant laughed at her, telling her it was much too good to be so slighted.
Hares are always hunted in this part of the country, and the dogs are trained not to bark. If they offend in this respect they are sure of a beating.
_August 1._
I found some Truffles (_Lycoperdon Tuber_) between Heden and Swartla.
Near the road grew _Glaux_ (_maritima_), as well as the Narrow-leaved Sea Plantain (_Plantago maritima_), and Small-leaved _Angelica_ (_A.
sylvestris_). On a bank I observed _Tritic.u.m maritimum_. (This last is thought by Dr. Afzelius to be _Elymus arenarius_. See _Fl. Lapp. ed._ 2 _n._ 34.)
Here various plants, which I had found blossoming at Uma, were now laden with fruit, as the _Mesomora_ (_Cornus suecica_), _Vaccinia_ (Whortle-berries), _Chamaemorus_ (_Rubus Chamaemorus_, Cloud-berry), and _Chamaerubus_ (_R. saxatilis_, Stone Bramble), all which vied with each other in the profusion of their berries. But little Ling (_Erica_) was to be seen.
The hills are but trifling. Rising grounds, which had partly been burnt, were covered with Spruce firs, and even with Reindeer-moss (_Lichen rangiferinus_).