9. When the towns of this part of the country were first built, each had certain parishes appropriated to it, and these were called the trading district of each town, in which no person who did not belong to the town had a right to trade. These exclusive privileges were subsequently annulled by royal authority, and free markets were established, where strangers as well as the neighbouring inhabitants were equally permitted to trade. This open trade has not however taken place at Calix, partly because the peasants are situated at so great a distance from one another, and partly because the merchants in the town conceive that such a plan would ruin them, they being in that case obliged to buy and sell for ready money. 10. Here are no free markets, properly speaking, but only _Upbördsmoten_ (periodical meetings of the collectors of the revenues with the peasants). At these times the townsmen and the peasants meet together at the place of rendezvous, as at Calix every year on the 19th of August, and at Tornea in the depth of winter. The inconveniences of the above plan of trade are, 1. The merchant lays considerable sums fast, with which he might otherwise extend his commerce. 2. He has the trouble of carrying his goods to the house of the peasant, where-ever it may be, up the country, and of bringing what he takes in exchange from the place of rendezvous to his own house in town. 3. The consequence of such a plan is, that many a merchant has outstanding debts to the amount of 100,000 dollars, the greater part of which he may never get paid. The inconveniences to the countryman are, 1. He runs in debt more than he can ever pay. 2. The merchant has the advantage of fixing what price he chooses on his goods. 3. He is not allowed to take any measures for his own profit. * * * * * The collar of the shirts, worn by the inhabitants of Finland and East Bothland in this neighbourhood, resembles ours, their sleeves being more like those of a woman's shift. Young women here commonly wear the bosom open, and have nothing over their shift, which is gathered round the waist like a petticoat. The country of East Bothland is chiefly inhabited about the sea-coast, and on the banks of rivers. An Aurora borealis was seen in the night of the 18th of August, and had been visible for a week past, so early does it begin here. The rowers of the boat in which I pursued my progress had blisters on their hands caused by pulling at the oars. Their specific was the ladle with which they had just been stirring the pot where fish was boiling. This they applied, hot as it was, to the part affected, and the blisters disappeared.