of the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia, than I have ever witnessed in any other agricultural country, except Flanders, and some few parts of England. Their condition is well expressed by their own word, sielf ständighet, or independence, without which there is no happiness."

There were two peasants ding with Eg when be encircled the animal: both of whom were to share equally with Himself in the spol, in the event of the best being doomed to die. But as these resided at a considerable distance from Brunberg, Elg had, on the preceding evening, sent off an express to desire them to meet us in the morning at a given spot.

On our reaching the place of rendezvous, however, the men had not made their appearance; and as the weather was stormy and comfortless, and some little snow was falling, we lost no time in getting up a good fire, by which, in some degree, we consoled ourselves for their absence.

Here an accident was nearly happening to Paijas, the only dog we had along with us: he was fastened to the back of the sledge that had conveyed us from Brunberg, which was standing immediately near to us; when, from some cause or other, the horse, which was still attached to the vehicle, took fright, and was bolting off at the full gallop but very fortunately, I was at this moment in such a situation as to be enabled, by throwing myself upon the animal, to retard is carcer, and thus prevent mischief. Had the horse once fairly started, the dog must inevitably have either had his neck broken, or have been dashed to pieces among the trees.

In less than half an hour after we had got up a fire, we were joined by the peasants. We now despatched our sledge back to Brunberg; and when the people had rested themselves for a short time, we set off for the ring, which was then immediately near to us.

The ring on this occasion was of an unusual size-not much less, certainly, than ten miles in circumference: it embraced, indeed, almost the whole of the eastern face of the mountain; but this, from circumstances, was unavoidable.

The fact was, the day on which Elg and his companions started the bear, (they being in the forest for the express purpose of looking for one of these animals,) they took this immense circle around the beast, as well for the fear of coming

too near upon and disturbing him anew, as that it was only in places there was a sufficiency of snow to enable them properly to effect their purpose. They had intended, however, at a subsequent period, materially to have reduced the size of the ring; but on the succeeding day a thaw came on, and in a very short time the ground, except in patches, was altogether bare of snow. In such weather, of course, they dared not to go near to that part of the forest; for, had they then started the bear, they would probably have lost his tracks, and he in consequence would have made his escape.

Though this ring was so very extensive that it would have taken so small a party as ours two or three days to have searched it properly, yet, from the knowledge the people possessed of the most likely brakes, they were of opinion that, if the animal was within it, we should presently succeed in getting him on foot. In this, as the event proved, they were not altogether wide of the mark.

When Elg and his companions first started this bear, it was out of an almost impenetrable brake, in the very thickest part of which he had formed a den, by excavating the ground to a very great depth. A lair of this kind is called in Sweden jord graf. Though the animal had intended this as his winter-quarters, he had not taken possession of it at the time he was disturbed by the

people; but he was lying on some few pine branches, (gran qwistar,) which he had torn from the adjacent trees.

When the bear thus reposes in the immediate vicinity of his den, it is called in Sweden lying păbrått, or on the watch. It is asserted by many, that the animal always adopts this course before he retires to his winter-quarters, that he may ascertain if the spot be secure and free from molestation. Possibly, however, it may arise from the temperature being mild when he first lies down, and that, in consequence, he requires less protection than at an after period, when the weather becomes more severe.

At the time Elg and his companions first roused this bear, they were not fortunate enough to get a view of him; though they were so near, that they distinctly heard the rustling of the boughs, as he made his way through the thicket. But as on this occasion their movements were conducted with great silence, and as they had no dog along with them, they seemed to be of opinion that the bear, from having been little alarmed, had not improbably gone back to this den, which he had prepared with so much care and labour; and this, in consequence, was the first point for us to reconnoitre.

At the time of our expedition, there was about four or five inches of snow upon the ground generally; but in particular parts of the forest, where