Västerbotten

This location is mentioned in the following paragraphs:

(§70) There was also a frame, 16 feet in height, for drying corn and peas. All the corn is dried on these up-country, throughout the whole of Hälsingland, Medelpad, Ångermanland and Västerbotten.

(§147) The road lay more or less beside the sea the whole way. I noted with compassion the beached fragments of unfortunate vessels that had been unable to propitiate Neptune with either promises or sacrifices, prayers or complaints, tears or sighs; and I recalled the student who had been so put to the test by Neptune that he preferred to travel the whole way to Stockholm on foot via Österbotten, Torneå, Västerbotten etc. rather than entrust himself to a malicious and inconstant Neptune for one or 2 days.

(§202) As I approached Västerbotten the high hills, stony areas and alder woods began to get fewer and 'Pinus' [pine], of which there had been a great lack, began to become more common.

(§203) Before I reached SÖRMJÖLE 11 miles away, there was a river called ÅNGERÅN separating Ångermanland from Västerbotten.

(§204)

Västerbotten

(§223) As soon as I entered Vasterbotten, I noticed that all the people had a kind of short boot called "kängor" on their feet. At first I was convinced that they were clumsy but soon discovered that it was much easier to walk in them than in any other kind. What's more, they do not let in water even if you wade in up to the ankle. Furthermore, unlike other boots, they do not have seams that burst and no buckles are necessary. They are suitable both as boots and as shoes, so that a ploughman does not need to buy boots for his work. The price of ordinary boots is at least 9 daler.

(§388)

Västerbotten

(§398) Towards evening I reached STӒRKESMARK and Jämtebol and found there the small, pretty 'Cameraria' [Blinks], a plant which I had never seen before. It was growing in great abundance in boggy ground: it is a very small annual plant and was present everywhere in Västerbotten after that.

(§449) I saw 'Vaccinium nigrum' [Blaeberry] sometimes with red flowers (as usual), sometimes with pale whitish flowers, but more unusually with yellow. 'Gale' [Bog Myrtle] was growing in the bog; I had not seen it in Vasterbotten before.

(§503) 26th. 'Gramen paleac.' [Mountain Melick], 'Tetrahit' [Common Hempnettle] called "dån" in Västerbotten, 'Geranium flore pallide' [Wood Cranesbill] at Bredåker, 'Conyza' [Blue Fleabane], 'Millefol. purp.' [Yarrow], 'Cirsium' [Melancholy Thistle].

(§508) The Lapps and the people of Västerbotten boil the unripe fruits of alder - 10 to 12 of them, the dose depending on the age -and give the decoction to their children as a purgative.

(§529) The boundary stone between Lappmark and Västerbotten lies near Storbacken, where the greater and lesser Lule rivers meet.

(§542) 3 1/2 miles from the church I found 'Cirsium minus' [Alpine Saw-wort], 'Cacalia' [butterbur]4 without flowers, as well as what the Lapps call 'botsko" and the Västerbotten people call "björnstut" ie. 'Magistrantia' [Angelica]. It was similar to 'Angelica, umbella universalis, nuda' [Garden Angelica]. The Lapp picked it immediately and, peeling the stalk which had not yet come into flower, ate it like a turnip as though it were a great delicacy. It really was tasty, the upper and softer part being particularly good, and the Lapps search avidly for it.

(§686) Västerbotten flat-bread is made from barley and husks in the following manner.

(§834) 'Angelica' [Garden Angelica] is called 'björnstut" by the people of Västerbotten but the Lapps have more confusing names for it. In the first year that it grows, the root is called "Urtas" and the leaves "Fadno", but in its second year the plant is called "Posco". When its stalk has been dried, it is called "Rasi", that is "grass"; "elli rasiist purro etnach" - that is, "make sure that you get as much grass as you can".

(§837) Hay, stacked hay in Västerbotten. Fresh hay is piled up over night so that it heats up, and then it is spread out in the day. This makes it more full-bodied and efficacious - just like the hops in Jamtland, which are packed tight together when fresh and then spread out to dry when they have built up a little heat.

(§838) Various methods of drying grain:

(§886) It is a common practice among the people of Västerbotten and the settlers to smear themselves with tar and fish-fat or other fats as a protection against mosquitoes. They put it in a horn and carry it at their sides; the Lapp, however, does not bother with this.

(§891) The Lappland magpie [Siberian Jay] - "Rodfagel" in Västerbotten, -"guousack" in Lappish - is greedy, takes meat or whatever it sees and is not timid; it can be reckoned to be one of the jay family.

(§911) The Lule river splits into 2 equally large branches a little above the boundary between Lappmark and Västerbotten: one branch is called the Little Lule river and it reaches the mountains in the direction of Kvikkjokk, the other is called the Great Lule river and it reaches the mountains in Norrbotten.

(§929) 15 sheaves are put on each frame without any further support in Västerbotten, whereas in Småland they make stacks of no more than 12, with 10 on the frame and 2 at the sides. Because of this the frames in Småland are no bigger than can be filled by hand while the Västerbotten people have to use an implement. This is called a stooking hook and is a round pole with a crosspiece fixed on one side. The point is stuck into the sheaf, which is then lifted up.

(§991) It is not the Kemi river that separates Västerbotten from Österbotten but a small river to the west.

(§1017) The plough is the same as in Västerbotten.

(§1031) The shirts worn by the Finns and Västerbotten men are like shirts at the neck and like shifts at the arms. The girls wear loose tops and go about in shifts that are gathered in like skirts.

(§1032) Most of the settlement in Västerbotten is along the coasts and rivers.

(§1038) The roofs in Västerbotten are made of birch bark, on top of which they do not lay turfs but round poles as thick as an arm. These rest against the roof ridge from opposite sides and are pegged together with about 8 inches standing clear in a crossshape at the top. At the bottom, where the poles are thick, they almost touch each other. There is a sort of ceiling made of moss and earth inside that, but only over the parts of the house that they want to keep warm.

(§1046) Lampreys, Västerbotten.

(§1060) There are 6 ferries between Kemi and Torneå; the river at KAAKAMO ferry, which is closest to Kemi (3 1/4 miles), is the boundary between Österbotten and Västerbotten.

Practical data about this location:

  • Written: Västerbotten
  • GPS (lat,lon): [64.26919, 20.4294]