The plant here called _Missne_, and used for food by the people, is the Water Dragons (_Calla palustris_); while that given to cattle is the _Menyanthes_ (_trifoliata_). Horses are fed with the finest tops of the twigs of spruce fir, chopped extremely small, and mixed with an equal quantity of barley. Such feed is used only in times of great scarcity, but it is very excellent provender.
The herbs I collected hereabouts were _Mesomora_ (_Cornus suecica_) with a proliferous blossom. _Spergula marina_ with spatulate petals, ten stamens, and three very short pistils. (_Arenaria peploides_). _Apium palustre_ (_Ligusticum scoticum_). _Trifolium_ with a monopetalous flower, of a white colour, (_T. pratense_). _Muscipula montana minima_ (perhaps _Gypsophila muralis_, see _Fl. Lapp. n. 171_). _Gramen triticeum maritimum, flore glauco_, (_Elymus arenarius?_ see _Fl. Lapp. ed. 2. n. 34_). _Glaux_ (_maritima_). A _Fucus_ in long strips, resembling flax; with many other species of that genus. _Filum marinum, in aquâ villosum._ _Coronopus_ with dotted leaves (a variety of _Plantago maritima_). There were numerous _Echini_ (Sea Urchins), as well as _Patellæ_ (Limpets), and _Balani_ (Barnacles); all so abundant on the shore that we could scarcely walk without treading upon them. I noticed likewise some kinds of Star-fish (_Asterias_), with many Corallines, and petrified Corals. (See Linnæus's dissertation, entitled _Corallia Baltica, Am[oe]n. Acad. v. 1. 74_.)
In the evening we arrived at the parsonage house of Rorstad, the residence of Mr. John Rask, _Pastor Secundarius_, and chaplain to the king. He has been in the West Indies, as well as Africa, and has published an account of his voyage, in which various fishes and plants are described in a very interesting style. He gave me a friendly reception. He has a handsome daughter named Sarah Rask, eighteen years of age. She seemed to me uncommonly beautiful. I must not omit to write to him hereafter; for, according to his account, he never expected to see an honest Swede. I wish Mr. Ingerald[63] may come and visit our neighbourhood, that I may have an opportunity of testifying my gratitude for his kindness, which otherwise I can never repay.