CHAP. after visiting these mines, he will also find the iron-mine of Agegrufvan, which lies close to the road'. Leaving Onshytta, we were struck by the appearance of a most curious mechanical contrivance, which presented itself in our road, for Machinery working the mine-pumps. It consisted of a Mine- most extensive combination of levers, all in motion, working parallel to each other by means

for the

Pumps.

11. Dark-green chlorite.

12. Light-green asbestiform actinote.

13. Light-green glassy tremolite.

14. Silicate of magnesia, called greenish-grey steatite, consisting of

(1) The mines of Age, called Agegrufvan, are situate about seven miles from Philipstad. (Thomson's Trav. in Sweden, p. 377.) Like the preceding, they consist of iron-ore, which occurs in a rock of mica-slate. The minerals found here, are:

1. Massive and granular magnetic iron-oxide.

2. Many varieties of lime-spar.

3. Garnet, in regular dodecahedral crystals.

4. Dark foliated mica.

5. Black foliated hornblende.

6. Epidote, crystallized in quartz.

7. Massive epidote.

8. Various forms of asbestus.

9. Hydrates of silica, of various colours,

10. Crystallized quartz.

For an account of other mines and minerals in the Province of Wermeland, the Reader is referred to Engeström's Guide aux Mines de Suède; Stockholm, 1796: but for much better, and more scientific, information, to Thomson's Travels in Sweden. Lond. 1815.

IX.

of water, being separated by transverse bars CHAP. resting upon upright posts with pivots. These

bars were about eight or ten feet in length; but the side-levers extended to mines out of our sight. The stream and wheel for giving motion to these levers was on the left-hand side of the road; under which, in one place, the levers passed, and, appearing again on our right, extended over the surface of the ground as far as we could see. Their appearance all in motion, without any person being visible near them, was very extraordinary; for it is difficult to conceive how so much machinery, consisting of such numerous parts, can be preserved in free action and without injury, remote from all observation. We afterwards passed several of these water-works, affording astonishing proofs of the extensive mining operations here carried on. They all move alike, by a successive series of impulses.

CHAP.

IX.

Saxẵn.

Westmania.

Our journey from Onshytta to Saxån was over a wild and mountainous district; but the roads were excellent. Quantities of slag and scoriæ, in our approach to Saxån, denoted the presence of iron-foundries, to which it owes its support. Part of the iron-ore from Persberg is brought here, to be smelted and forged: it is then conveyed, in the form of bar-iron, to Christinehamn, and thence, by the Lake Wener, to Trolhatta and Gothenburg. This trade supports the village of Saxån, which consists of a rich and good inn, and a few respectable farm-houses.

On Wednesday, Nov. 6, we left Saxån about seven A. M. The morning was very wet and cold. We had proceeded about half a Swedish mile in our day's journey to Laxbro, when we passed the boundary of the province of Wermeland, and entered into Westmanland, or, as it is sometimes called, Westmania; the natives of which province speak the Swedish language in greater purity, and with a better accent, than any other. Our road lay through forests. In going to Nytorp, our first relay, the appearance of beautiful lakes, like those in the north of Sweden, engaged our admiration. We often wished to halt, and make drawings of them. The timber in these forests runs to a prodigious height, but the trees are slender, and by no

IX.

means equal in bulk to those we had seen in CHAP. other provinces. We passed iron-foundries and sawing-mills. From Saxån, the whole way to the frontier of Dalarne, or Dalecarlia, in journeying through Westmanland, the traveller constantly meets with mines or iron-foundries: and it is worthy of remark, that, whenever these appearances take place, there are also evident marks of the blessings of industry, in the neatness and comfort of the dwellings near them, and sometimes in the signs of wealth and of elegance which may be observed. These subterraneous treasures, and their consequences, in employing so many foundries, and in requiring so much aid of machinery for working the mines, are among the most profitable possessions of Sweden. Their evident importance in the prosperity to which they give rise, throughout districts that would otherwise be deserted, ought to serve as a lesson, to the inhabitants of other countries, to seek diligently for such sources of industry and opulence, where the features of the country are unfavourable to agriculture; since it is the same Providence which renders productive to human labour the most bleak and barren rock, and the most fertile vegetable soil. We had left Wermeland with feelings very different from those with which

CHAP.

IX.

Hälleforss.

we entered it from Norway; where the barren aspect of the country seemed calculated to excite the murmur of its inhabitants. For even amidst these rocks we beheld "a land which the Lord had blessed;"-a land, it is true, where sluggards might starve,-as they may anywhere; but where a sturdy and active race of men have already found all that is necessary for the comforts and even for the luxuries of life;"A LAND WHEREIN THOU SHALT EAT BREAD WITHOUT SCARCENESS, NOR LACK ANY THING IN IT; A LAND WHOSE STONES ARE IRON, AND OUT OF WHOSE HILLS THOU MAY EST DIG BRASS."

About nine English miles from Saxån is Hälleforss, a place long rendered remarkable for its silver-mines, but which are now nearly exhausted'. Three English miles and a half beyond HälleNytorp forss we arrived at Nytorp. Rain fell incessantly,

(1) The minerals found at Hälleforss are:

1. Argentiferous sulphuret of lead.

2. Sulphuret of lead, crystallized in cubes.

3. Micaceous sulphuret of lead.

4. Yellow sulphuret of copper, in acicular crystals.

5. Sulphuret of iron, in various forms.

6. Sulphuret of zinc.

7. Lime-spar.

8. Crystallized quartz.

9. Hydrates of silica, of various hues, 10. Siliceous breccia,