Field Sports of the North of Europe; comprised in a personal narrative of a residence in Sweden and Norway, in the years 1827-28. With numerous engravings

Front matter

Dra/wru m/ Storw/ iy F M 3&nf7bt>s . JhnJ-ed, hj 0 -Aullmm^d-tl . A FIELD SPORTS OF THE NORTH OF EUROPE; COMPKISED IN A PERSONAL NARRATIVE OF RESIDENCE IN SWEDEN AND NORWAY, IN THE YEARS 1827-28. BY L. LLOYD, ESQ. WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: HENRY COLBURN AND RICHARD BENTLEY, 8, NEW BURLINGTON STREET. 1830. LONDON : PRINTED BY SAMUEL BENTLEY, Dorset Street, Fleet Street.

ADVERTISEMENT.

. In the Autumn of 1824, I was induced to visit the North of Europe, and there I remained until a very recent period. Though my residence for the greater part of the time was principally in Sweden, my travels extended as well through that country, as through portions of Norway, Finland, Lapland, Denmark, and Russia. I once intended to lay before the public an account of all my wanderings ; but, on reflection, I was led to consider that so great a length of time would be embraced, and consequently so much matter, that the work w-ould have been inconven iently voluminous. In addition to this, I wras inclined to think that as the Scandinavian peninsula, and the adjoining countries, had recently been explored by a

Chapter I

Introductory Remarks . . Page I Form of Government. — Population. — Religion. — Produce. — Climate. — Scenery. — Relics of Antiquity. — Fences. — Ex changes : Circulating Medium. — Corn Measure. — Packets. — Passport. — Swedish Travelling: roads. — Posting: the Post horses. — Avant-courier, or Forebud. — Carriages. — Expeditious travelling. — Horses. — Driving. — Travelling Servants. — -Hints to Travellers.— Swedish Inns aud Post-houses. — Beds. — Charges at the Inns. — Table of fixed Prices. — Concluding Remarks on Swedish travelling — Maps and travelling Books . . 3

Skall in Wermeland. — Jan Finne, 179

CHAPTER XL

Anecdotes relating to Skalls. — Concluding remarks on Skalls 195

Chapter XII

Fishing Season commences late. — Description of Fish near Stjern. — Manner of taking Fish. — Anecdotes of Pike and Eagle. — Fishing in the Interior. — Boats. — Manner of descending rapids : compared with that practised in Lapland . 211 CONTENTS. XI

Chapter XIII

Mosquitos. — Migration of the Swallow. — Sickness in the country. — Want of Medical advice. — Forest anecdotes. — Exe cution of criminals. — Atrocious deed. — Penal Laws . 227

Chapter XIV

Anecdotes of the ferocity of Bears. — Difficulty of killing them in the summer . . . 243 243

Chapter XV

Capercali : — Racklehanen. — Introducing the Capercali to England : — That bird in a state of domestication ; his Breeding and Courage. — Shooting Capercali with a Cocker : — also from an ambuscade by torch-light: — His love-song. — Mr. Greiff's remarks . . . . . 259

Chapter XVI

The Hazel-hen : — eggs ; food; domestication. — Woodcock; breeding ; migration ; scarcity ; the people eating their eggs. — The Black-cock : varieties in colour ; breeding with the com mon fowl.— Shooting the Black-cock ; traps ; poison . 284

Chapter XVII

Journey to the South. — Agriculture. — Katrineberg. — Salmon- Fishery — Angling for Salmon.— Apertin. — Carlstad. — Shoot ing. — Fishing in the Wenern. — Swine. — Pigs attacking dogs — Carlstad to Saffle. — Ferry boats.— Saffle to Wenersborg. — Aurora Borealis . ... 295

Chapter XVIII

Wenersborg. — Trollhattan.— Canal. — Cataracts. — Anecdotes. Inn. — Salmon-Fishing. — Accidents. — Angling. — Shooting. — Breaking Pointers . . CONTENTS.

Chapter XIX

Uddevalla. — Qvistrom, — Captain Bernhult. — Lobsters ; Oys ters Black Game shooting. — The Fox. — Fox shooting in Swe den. — The Fox in the Oak. — Fox Hunt.— Fox Hounds. — Re markable Foxes .... 333

Chapter XX

The Wolf. — Anecdote. — Varieties in colour ; gestation ; do mestication ; scent ; track — Wolf and Dog. — Food ; timidity ; courage; manner of attack; strength; ferocity — Anecdote. — Greater ferocity in warmer climates ; increase of numbers. — Summer Wolf-skalls . . . . 342

Chapter XXI

Lilla Edet. — Gothenburg ; public edifices ; trade Count Rosen — Sir James Saumarez. — Provisions : Hotels and Re staurateurs — Snipe and Duck-shooting. — Fishing . 356

Chapter XXII

Departure from Gothenburg. — Fishing. — Lidkoping. — Kinne Kulle. — Mariestad — Gota Canal — Christinehamn I /..•n./i'/i , l)i/'h.rh,il In (,<ll>ttrn A fimti.v, X,n AtAmM V/ ' /.'..(/' FIELD SPORTS OF THE NORTH OF EUROPE, &fC. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. As it was in Sweden my quarters were fixed at the period I speak of, and as it was the principal scene of what I am about to describe, it may not be out of place for me here to make some general and miscellaneous observations relating to that country ; and this as well with a view that the reader may be the better enabled to follow me in my peregrinations, as that hereafter I may not be under the necessity of making too many digressions from my little narrative. Respecting Norway, also, I shall have occasion to make some few remarks ; but these I shall reserve until an after period.

Sweden, until of late years, has been imper fectly known by, and certainly has engrossed very little of the attention of English travellers. The publications, however, of our countrymen, VOL. I. B INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. and others, within a recent period, have excited public attention, which, together with the facility of access, (by the way of Hamburg and Copen hagen,) afforded by steam-navigation, has lately induced many to visit that kingdom. Sweden, though a poor, is in many respects a very in teresting country ; and its free constitution and usages, its good roads, and cheap travelling, to gether with the facilities granted to strangers in their various pursuits, will doubtless encourage a more enlarged intercourse in future. The spirit of the Government is liberal, and the authorities necessarily partake of it : in no country in Europe can travellers pursue their avocations with more confidence and less personal risk than in Sweden.

For my own part, I can only say, that during my travels, which at different times ex tended over nearly the whole of that kingdom, so far from meeting with molestation or hindrance, I have uniformly experienced from people of all classes the greatest hospitality and kindness : from the Government itself I likewise received every liberality and indulgence : a cabinet or confidential passport, which is considered an especial favour, was granted to me, without any limitation as to time, authorizing me to travel in any direction I pleased in all parts of Scandinavia ; and this, as it secured to me attention and respect wherever I went, proved also of invaluable service to me in my w-anderings. FORM OF GOVERNMENT. 3

Chapter I

Form of Government. — Population.— Religion. — Produce. — Climate.— Scenery. — Relics of Antiquity. — Fences. — Exchanges : Circulating Medium. — Corn Measure. — Packets. — Passport. — Swedish Travelling: roads. — Posting: the Post-horses. — Avant-courier, or Forebud. — Carriages. — Expeditious travelling. — Horses. — Driving. — Travelling Servants. — Hints to Travellers. — Swedish Inns and Post-houses. — Beds. — Charges at the Inns. — Table of fixed Prices. — Concluding Remarks on Swedish travelling. — Maps and travelling Books. The form of Government in Sweden, as every one knows, is that of a limited monarchy : the constitution, to a certain extent, a liberal one. Indeed, as far as I had an opportunity of observing, the people have little to complain of in a political point of view : they appeared to me to enjoy a great degree of liberty ; and I do not, in any one instance, recollect having heard any individual ex press dissatisfaction at the system of government, or at tbe existing order of things : this would have been likely enough to happen, had any serious grievances actually existed; but, unapprehensive of having their sentiments recorded by the agents of a secret police, (which fortunately does not exist in Sweden, as in some other countries,) the B POPULATION.

Swedes enjoy the most perfect freedom in their conversations. Sweden also possesses, to a great extent, that palladium of liberty, — the Press ; subject, however, to a certain censorship, which is never exercised but in extreme cases. Upon the whole, the mild ness with which the laws are administered in Sweden is such, that it may well be said of it, as was not long ago applied to the Government of the United States — "qu'on ne voit rien — on ne sens rien." Nothing is seen — nothing is felt. The population of Sweden, exclusive of Nor way, according to the census taken in the year 1825, amounted to 2,751,582 souls : since that period it has materially increased.* This census • In 1820, the population was only 2,584,690: of that number 10,149 were Nobles. 14,883 — Literal y men (including Professors, Students, &c.) 65,003 — Gentry. 63,403 — Burghers. 1,864,272 — Peasants. 566,980 _ Of different classes. 2,584,690 The number of nobility, may appear very disproportionate to the amount of the population ; but when it is taken into consideration that, formerly, the rank of the parents descended equally to all the children, it will no longer excite surprise.

By a legislative enactment, however, of the Diet, passed, if I remember right, in 1800, the eldest child only can now inherit its parent's title. RELIGION. is taken from some statistical tables very recently published in Stockholm, under the auspices, as I understand, of the Government, by Mr. Carl as Forsell, and from which, as they contain much valuable and curious information regarding the resources and internal state of Sweden and Norway, I may hereafter have occasion to make a few extracts. The established religion of Sweden is the Lutheran, which was introduced into that king dom during the reign of Gustavus I., better known as Gustavus Yasa, in the 16th century. All other denominations are, however, tolerated : of Jews, and other sectarians, there are but few in the kingdom. The Jews labour under many disabilities : among others, they are only per mitted to have Synagogues in three of the larger cities, namely Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Norrkoping : they are also incapable of being members of the Diet, or of becoming land ed proprietors.

In Norway they are altogether excluded. Catholics, and dissenters from the established form of worship, have, since the year 1778, been permitted the free exercise of their religion, though they are incapable of holding offices of trust or profit under Government. Like the Jews, they are ineligible to take their seats in the legislative assembly, which, as it is well known, is composed of the four estates of the kingdom, — PRODUCE. the Nobles— the Clergy— the Rurghers, and the Peasants. They may however vote for the re presentatives. Of dissenters, I only remember hearing of three sects, — Swedenborgians, Moravians or Hernhuthers, and Readers (Lasare). The two former are well known in England: the latter, I understand, have no particular form of worship, but confine themselves to reading (as the name denotes) the Holy Scriptures, and praying.

The ex-king Gustavus Adolphus was always supposed to be strongly attached to the doctrine of the Moravians. The staple commodities of Sweden consist principally in timber, iron, steel, tar, pitch, &c. Hemp and flax are also cultivated, but not to an extent proportionate to their consumption : the climate and soil are in many places particularly adapted to the growth of these articles. The Government has of late years directed its attention to the encouragement of this branch of in dustry, which, in course of time, may be a source of the greatest importance to the country, and save considerable sums now annually paid to Russia. The tobacco plant has lately been culti vated in the southern provinces of Sweden, and has been found to answer very well, so much so indeed, that some very considerable quantity is produced every year.

Agriculture is encouraged in every part of the PRODUCE. kingdom where the soil is susceptible of cultivation : its progress has been so rapid within a few years, that Sweden, formerly obliged to have recourse to foreign countries for supplies of corn, is now enabled not only to meet her own wants, but to export considerable quantities : even the English market has latterly been supplied with wheat of excellent quality, the growth of Sweden. Improvements are continually made : it has even been observed, I know not how correctly, that the climate of Sweden has become considerably milder since the extension of agriculture. Notwithstanding these cheering prospects, the Swedish Government, with a foresight worthy of imitation, has established granaries in various parts, from which, when the crops unfortunately fail, the public is supplied with corn at moderate prices, * thus obviating the possibility of a famine.

This politic measure was first introduced into the Prussian states, I believe, by Frederic the Second, shortly after the termination of the seven years' war. Of minerals, particularly iron and copper, Sweden possesses an inexhaustible store : the quantity of the former, now actually manufactured, is very considerable ; but, for a while at least, it might be increased tenfold, were it not * The corn thus supplied is furnished by the government on credit, if necessary ; to be paid either in money or kind. CLIMATE — SCENERY. for a legislative enactment, which, to prevent the too great destruction of the forests, has re stricted the manufacturer in the several districts, to the production of a given quantity of this material. In such a variety of latitude as Sweden embraces, extending from the fifty-fifth to about the sixty-eighth degree, the climate, as may readily be supposed, varies not a little ; in the northern provinces the winters are extremely severe, as I shall by and by have occasion to show, and the snow usually remains upon the ground for nearly one-half of the year ; but, on the other hand, the summers are in general ex cessively warm, and vegetation in consequence proportionately rapid.

In the more southern provinces, however, the temperature probably differs only to a trifling ex tent either during the winter or summer months from that of the eastern coast of Scotland. In the southern and midland provinces there is much land under cultivation; but the more northern ones may almost be described as an uninterrupted forest, the proportion of reclaimed ground to that in a state of nature, being so very trifling. The scenery of the southern and midland pro vinces of Sweden, I think every one must allow, is generally picturesque and beautiful, though, at the same time, it has no pretensions to gran- RELICS OF ANTIQUITY. 9 deur, in consequence of the hills (for of mountains there are none,) seldom or never exceeding a few hundred feet in height : to compensate for the want of Alpine character, however, the coun try is finely undulated, and rocks and hills, generally feathered with wood to their very sum mits, meet the eye of the traveller in every variety and direction.

Of lakes, as may be seen by the map, there are an immense number stud ded over the whole face of the country ; many of them of course on a small scale ; but others, such as the Wenern, Wettern, and the Malarn, are among the largest and finest in Europe. Of the multitude of lakes, a better idea may perhaps be formed, when I mention that, in the parish of Tuna, in Norrland, not remarkable for its extent, it is said there are as many lakes as there are days in the year ; and this, from what I know of the nature of the country, I can readily con ceive to be no exaggeration. Though the southern and midland provinces of Sweden have little pretensions to be called mountainous, still, as one approaches the more northern parts, particularly near to the elevated range which separates that kingdom from Nor way, nature assumes a much more imposing as pect, and may sometimes be seen on a most magnificent scale.

In passing through Sweden, the traveller can not but be struck at seeing so few relics of FENCES. antiquity; no tumuli, no ancient convents or monasteries, no old baronial residences, as are so often to be met with in England. This, among so ancient a people as the Scandinavians, struck me at first as extraordinary; but it must no doubt be owing as well to the perishable nature of the materials of which buildings are generally constructed in that part of the world, as to the feudal system never having existed to any extent in that kingdom. One rarely sees stone-walls in Sweden, and sel dom or never hedges ; but from one extremity of the country to the other, the fences, which have a singular appearance, are constructed in the following manner : Two upright stakes of ten or fifteen, feet in length, and of about the thickness of a man's wrist or arm, are, with the assistance of a crow bar, firmly driven into the ground, opposite to, and at about four or five inches apart from, each other.

These double stakes are continued at intervals of from three to four feet the whole length of the intended enclosure ; the open space is then filled up with strips of wood, (young fir trees, split into two or more pieces,) which are laid nearly longitudinally upon each other, until they reach the height of about four feet; and the whole is then bound fast together with withes, or rather with the small branches of the fir. The accompanying sketch will however give FENCES. 11 a far better idea of one of these fences, than any written description. These fences will not last more than six or eight years : this, however, is not their only defect ; for, after the first season or two, they require very considerable annual repairs. The great advantage of this description of fences, however, is, that they cost little more than labour ; for such wood as they are constructed of is procurable almost every where in Sweden, at little or no expense.

To make them the more durable, the wood is often partially burnt in the first instance. Hunting in the English style is not the fashion in Sweden ; and indeed unless another kind of EXCHANGES — CIRCULATING MEDIUM. fence were substituted for the one at present in use, I apprehend the sport would be impracticable, as, from there seldom being sufficient room be tween the upright stakes, no horse in the world could leap the fence, without great risk to both himself and his rider. At present there is neither gold nor silver in common circulation in Sweden, but only paper* and copper money. It is said, however, that the Rank of Sweden will soon resume cash payments, for which purpose it has of late years been stor ing up in its coffers large quantities of bullion. Of paper there are two kinds, respectively deno minated the dollar-rix, and the dollar-banco : the latter is more valuable by one-half than the former; that is to say, taking the exchange at 13 R. D. 16 Sk. banco, which it was in 1827, the dollar-rix was worth exactly one shilling of our money, and the dollar-banco one shilling and sixpence : the exchange of course varies consi derably; but I shall assume 13 R. D. 16 Sk. banco as the average, as it will enable me to make my little calculations with rather more facility.

If the exchange however, at some future time, should be still more favourable for England, so that instead of 13 R. D. 16 Sk. banco, a man may get fifteen or sixteen dollars-banco for his sove reign, then my calculations will of course be * There are notes in circulation in Sweden of as low a value as threepence sterling. CORN MEASURE. a little too high ; but should the exchange fall, they will be a trifle under the mark. Underneath will be found a table of weights and measures in general use in Sweden: some of the calculations, which have been carefully revised, have given considerable trouble ; but I trust they may be found useful to the future tra veller. The Swedish mile is equal to six English miles and one thousand one hundred and forty yards. I may also farther remark, that the ad measurement of land in Sweden is calculated by " Tunneland,'' a hundred of which are equal to one hundred and twenty-two two-tenths Eng lish acres ; seventy-five five-tenths Irish ; and ninety-six one-tenth Scotch.

CORN MEASURE. A tunna, or Swedish barrel of wheat, rye, barley, pease, oats, beans, tares, is equal to 2 spans. 8 fierdings. 36 kapps. 56 kanns. 4-j! English bushels. 59- kapps equal to the English Winchester quarter, of eight bushels. * J equal to one Winchester bushel. within a fraction J One kappa equal to fifty-six ort. A tunna malt, equal to thirty-eight kapps. A tunna salt or lime, equal to thirty-four kapps. WEIGHTS. LONG MEASURE. (About two per cent, less than English.) 1 Swedish foot equal to 11". inches English. 38 ditto — 37 feet ditto. 5416 ditto — one English mile. 1 Swedish ell = 2 Swedish feet. 57 ditto = 36^ English yards. 1000 ditto = 649 ditto. 1 Swedish mile, or 18,000 ells = 6 miles 1140 yards English. 1 ditto square mile = 324,000,000 Swedish square ells. 23,142? Swedish tunneland. 10,000 Swedish square miles = 440,666!

English square miles. 1 Swedish tunneland = 14,000 Swedish square ells. 100 Swedish tunneland = 122^0 English acres. = 75|-0 Irish acres. = 961 Scotch acres. LIQUID MEASURE, For Wine, Spirits, Beer, Oil. 1^ Swedish aums -= an English hogshead. 1 aum = 4 ankars, or 40 English gallons. 1 ankar =15 kans. 1 kann = 2 stop. *= 8 quarten. = 32 jungfru. 91 i kanns = a hogshead of 63 gallons. If.kann = a gallon. * Although fractions occur in some of the above calculations, these are the actual measures used in business. TACK ET S. 15 WEIGHTS. 1 skalpund victuallic weight = 14{| ounces English avoirdupois. 1000 skalpund victuallic weight =1131 Bergs weight. = 1187§ Uppstads ditto. = 1250 Stapelstads ditto. = 1193 Apothek's ditto. = 937 Avoirdupois ditto 20 skalpund = Lispund. 20 Lispund = One Skeppund. 7^ Skeppund Stapelstad weight = 1 ton English. 1 Skeppund or 400 ditto = 320 victuallic wt. = 300 avoirdupois ditto.

Post-office packets sail once in the week, be tween Harwich and Gothenburg, — from the former on the Saturday, and from the latter on the Tuesday morning. The distance between the two places is between five and six hundred miles ; the average of the voyage to Gothenburg may be taken at a week ; the contrary way, in consequence of the prevalence of westerly winds, at about a fortnight. These are sailing-packets. Of late years, however, many travellers who have • The victualic weight is the standard weight of the country, and that by which provisions, &c. are calculated. In round numbers, it is about seven percent, less than avoirdupois: in other words, one cwt. English is about 119^ skalpunds victualic weight. SWEDISH TRAVELLING ROADS. visited Scandinavia have proceeded by the way of Hambro' and Copenhagen, by which route they have had the benefit of steam-navigation for nearly the whole of the distance.

No person, whether native or foreign, can tra vel in Sweden without a passport ; and to procure this, if he be a foreigner, he should be provided with one either from the Swedish Minister, or Charge d' Affaires, or at least bearing the Vise of the Swedish Consul, of the country whence he came. Attention must be paid to this point, as foreigners arriving in Sweden, without the sanction of a Swedish authority, are liable to difficulties and delays in procuring passports to proceed into the interior. The traveller should always have his passport in readiness ; for, though seldom inquired after, every postmaster, and even hostler, is at liberty to demand the same at his pleasure. I shall now make a few observations regarding travelling in Sweden ; and as these are the results of considerable experience, they may not be al together useless to those who may visit that kingdom.

In the first place, I may remark, that throughout the country, the roads are generally ex cellent, and probably equal to any in Europe, with the exception perhaps only of our own. These, to gether with the bridges, (provided the population where such are situated be pretty considerable,) are always made in the first instance at the ex- POSTING. 17 pen se of the district through which the roads may pass, and in which the bridges may be si tuated ; the Government seldom contributing one farthing towards their construction. The same is also the case as regards their subsequent repairs ; for every occupier of land has a certain portion of the road or bridge allotted to him, which it is his bounden duty to keep in proper order. When roads happen to lie through the forests, the trees, according to an existing law, should be cleared away the distance of several feet on either side, and this is done, as it is said, with the two-fold object of facilitating the free circulation of air, by which the roads are necessarily kept in better repair, and also to enable travellers to perceive and guard against robbers, wolves, or other kinds of peril.

Such ordonnance, however, though still rigorously adhered to in Finland, which once formed a portion of, and was govern ed by, the same laws as Sweden, is now, in many of the interior parts of the latter country, little attended to. There are no coaches or other public conveyances (with the exception of a diligence lately established between Stockholm and Upsala,) in Sweden ; but posting is remarkably cheap* To * From all eountry post-stations the charge for a single horse is sixteen skillings banco, or sixpence of our money, the Swedish (nearly seven English) mile : from the towns generally, from the greater difficulty of procuring horses, it is twenty VOL. I. C POSTING. 18 take it in round numbers, with one horse, in cluding gratuities to drivers, (skjuttsbonde,) host lers, (Hall-karlen,) and other incidental charges, the expense is less than ten shillings of our money the hundred English miles :— for two horses, under a pound, and so on, in the like proportion, according to the number of horses that may be employed.

There are no turnpikes in Sweden ; and the tolls for ferries and bridges (though on the latter these are only occasionally levied,) usually come exceedingly light. In Sweden, as with us, the driver expects a little gratuity ; but if, after a long stage, he receives some six or eight skillings, (three halfpence or twopence of our money ; and he generally gets very much less,) he thinks himself most magnificently paid. This is some little contrast to our postboys, who, unskillings, or about seven-pence. In Gothenburg, Stockholm, and perhaps one or two other places, it is something higher. In the former city, it is twenty-four skillings, or nine-pence ; and in the latter, thirty-six, or thirteen-pence halfpenny. — With a single horse, only one traveller is allowed ; for, should there be two in the carriage, the expense is increased, I believe, by one-half ; if there be two horses, however, there may be three persons.

Should the traveller employ two horses, and even should they be attached to separate carriages, he is not necessitated to take more than one driver, and this, if the road be heavy, is an advantage worth attending to ; should the traveller have four horses, then he is obliged to provide seats for two drivers. POSTING. 19 der the like circumstances, will be dissatisfied at less than a crown-piece. The hostler, likewise, (though by law he dares not demand the same, for by so doing he subjects himself to punishment,) looks forward to some little recompense for his trouble; and he also is usually very grateful for three or four skillings, or about a penny of our money.

The post-horses are furnished by the owners and occupiers of land of the districts in the vicinity of the several post-stations : this, how ever, is done by compulsion ; and though, from the want of public conveyances, it may be a necessary evil, it is considered by many to be a great hardship upon the landed interest.* The post-horses are under the control of the Go vernment ; and at every station a register, called the day book, is kept, as well for the^ purpose of the traveller inserting his name, rank, and pro fession, for the information of the authorities, as for the mutual protection of himself, the post- * As an illustration of such being the case, a Swedish noble man of high rank mentioned to me, that one day, during the autumnal months, when his people were busily employed in carrying home the harvest, no less than fourteen pair of his horses, (no individual being exempt from this duty) were ordered to the post-station ; that a heavy rain, which continued with little intermission for several days afterwards, came on the same evening, and that, in consequence, much of his grain, which otherwise would have been saved iu excellent order, was en tirely spoilt.

C POSTING. master, and the owner, or driver of the post horses. In this book, which contains many regu lations regarding the rights and privileges of the several parties interested, the traveller is enabled to make complaints, should there be cause, in regard to bad horses, extortion, or incivility on the part of the postmaster, the driver, or the hostler ; and as the book is forwarded once a month to the governors of the. several provinces, such com plaints are promptly investigated ; and if they prove to be well-founded, the parties trespassing are fined or otherwise punished, as the law may happen to prescribe. On most of the principal roads in Sweden, as well as on many of the others, a certain number of Hall,* or waiting-horses, and in addition, not " Hall" horses are furnished in rotation, by all the landed proprietors, or occupiers, (with some few exceptions) in the district in which the post-house is situated: in most cases, they arrive at the latter at six o'clock in the evening, and remain on duty for twenty-four hours, or until the like hour on the suc ceeding evening, when another set of horses, similarly denomi nated, relieve them.