resembled, in many respects, their breasts and arms in particular, so many human beings. The sight, in consequence, was a rather shocking one, and forcibly reminded me of a disgusting exhibition I had witnessed a few years before, at a celebrated anatomist's in London. The horrors of this, indeed the macerating tub with its attendant vulture-will never, I think, be effaced from my imagination.

The fore-legs of the old bear were uncommonly muscular; and, indeed, after seeing them, a person might readily have believed in the amazing prowess ascribed to bears. The state of the intestines of the animals was as I have described in the beginning of this work.

The galls we carefully preserved; those being considered in Scandinavia a specific against a variety of disorders; the like was the case with the fat, which is as highly esteemed in Sweden as with This, some one says, is possessed of such extraordinary virtue, that if a deal-box be rubbed with it overnight, on the following morning it will be converted into a hair-trunk.

us.

Only the fat, (Ister) by the by, which is found about the intestines, is used in Scandinavia medicinally, or for the hair; of this there is usually but an inconsiderable quantity. The fat (fet) itself, which, on a large bear, may weigh sixty or eighty pounds, is merely used for culinary purposes. The bears' grease we purchase in this country, if bears'

grease it really be, is, I have reason to believe, concocted out of the whole of the fat found upon those animals.

The hams (those at least that I took possession of) were destined to be smoked. In that state, they are considered great delicacies. The remainder of the carcass was either salted, or reserved in its then state.

When fresh, I consider the flesh of the bear, which sometimes resembles beef, to be excellent. Indeed, during this particular winter, it constituted a principal part of my food: the paws are thought to be a great dainty.

The skins of our bears were now nailed to the sides of a warm room; the fat was then scraped from them, and afterwards a little salt and water, as also wood-ashes, were applied, that they might dry the sooner. The skin of the old bear was about eight feet in length, and of a proportionate breadth.

In taking the skin from a bear, the knife is not passed along the stomach farther than to within some few inches of the insertion of the tail; this gives the skin, when dried and extended, a handsome and more compact appearance. The manner in which this is effected is represented in a woodcut, which will be found farther on. The claws are allowed to remain on the skin, which add much to its beauty.

In the interior of the country, the weight of a

bear, either from want of curiosity or opportunity, is rarely ascertained: the peasants, however, when speaking of the size of the animal, say their skins were of such a length. In this case, therefore, if a person wishes to form an idea of the actual dimensions of the bear, he must allow for the few inches of which I have just spoken. But this method of judging of the size of those animals, unless one actually sees the skin itself, is far from being satisfactory; for it not unfrequently happens, that, instead of being extended in the natural form, they are drawn out to a most preposterous length, when their width, in consequence, becomes excessively disproportionate.

The skin of the bear is in by far the best order in the winter-time; if the animal be of moderate size, and killed at that season, it is worth, in Sweden, from two to three pounds.

As I had not made any previous stipulation to the contrary, the bears we had just slaughtered were the property of our two peasants. This was in consequence of their having ringed these animals in the first instance.

I believe no actual law exists in Sweden to that effect, though it is a perfectly well-understood thing in the interior of the country, that the man who rings a bear is entitled to the animal; and in consequence, without express permission, no other person dreams of disturbing the beast. But in Norway, I have reason to think there is an

ordinance making the bear the property of the man who rings him in the first instance; and, in consequence, those who either disturb or destroy the animal without authority are subjected to rather severe penalties.

As my two peasants were very poor, I did not care to deprive them of too much of their booty; my own share of the spoil was, in consequence, trifling. Indeed, I only took possession of the fat, tongues, and a little of the flesh of the bears. They proved a rich prize to the people; for, independently of the flesh, which was much esteemed in that part of the world, the skins alone were worth about five pounds, which is a considerable sum in Sweden. In addition to this, they were entitled to a reward (Sköttpenningar) paid by the Government, or rather the particular district, for the destruction of pernicious animals.

Leaving Jan Finne and Svensson with the dogs at Tönnet, I set off in my sledge towards evening for Lapp cottage; but owing to the thaw, the track was not in the best order, and as I was also delayed for a horse on the way, it was rather late before I reached my quarters.

CHAPTER IV.

State of the weather.-Want of Snow. -Christmas customs.— Christmas Eve.--Răda Church.-Personalia. --Collections for the Poor.-Bells.-Marriage Ceremony.-Laws relating to Marriages.-Peasants' Marriages.

THE following day, Sunday the 9th of December, the weather took up again and became slightly frosty.

On the afternoon of Monday the 10th, Jan Finne made his appearance at Lapp cottage, having left, according to my directions, Svensson, together with the dogs and baggage, at Sälje, where we now purposed proceeding forthwith, to search for the bear which was reported to be ringed in that vicinity.

During the night, however, the frost again disappeared; and when, at five o'clock on the following morning, which of course was several hours before daylight, the horse was to the sledge, and we were on the point of starting for Sälje, it came on to rain so heavily, that we thought it very