Through Finland in Carts Part 20

_Imatra_ is glorious. _Wallinkoski_, the lower fall, is more picturesque, perhaps, but both are wonderful; they are worth journeying far to see, and holding in recollection for ever. We have nothing like them anywhere in Britain. The Falls of Foyers are as crumbs in a loaf of bread when compared with _Imatra_. The fall at Badgastein is as nothing beside Finland's great cataract; _Honefos_ in Norway a mere trifle. In Europe _Imatra_ stands alone, with _perhaps_ the exception of its solitary rival, _Trollhattan_ in Sweden, the exquisite beauty of which is already marred by the sacrilegious hand of the Philistine.

Above all, Finland, you should not allow St. Petersburg to light her streets with your water power; there is enough water in _Imatra_ to light half Europe--but keep it for yourselves, keep it as a pearl in a beautiful casket. _Imatra_ is one of Finland's grandest possessions.

It seems impossible that salmon could live in such a cataract, but yet it is a fact that they do.

Verily, Finland is a paradise for fishermen. A paradise for lines and rods, reels and flies, for masters of the piscatorial art; there are to be found freshwater lakes, and glorious rivers full of fish. Some call it the heaven of anglers, and permission to fish can easily be obtained, and is absurdly inexpensive.

The best-known spot is _Harraka_, near _Imatra_, because the English Fishing Club from St. Petersburg found sport in those wonderful waters until they acquired _Varpa Saari_, an island a little farther down the river.

The _Saimen Lake_ is about 150 miles long, and the river _Vuoksen_, which forms _Imatra_, joins this fishing water with the famous _Ladoga_, the largest lake in Europe, which again empties itself into the sea by the _Neva_. This is not a fishing-book, or pages might be written of happy hours spent with grayling or trout with a fly, or spinning from a boat with a minnow.

Kind reader, have you ever been driven in a _Black Maria_? That is, we believe, the name of the c.u.mbersome carriage which conveys prisoners from one police-station to another, or to their prison home? We have; but it was not an English _Black Maria_, and, luckily, we were never anywhere taken from one police-station to another. Our _Black Maria_ was the omnibus that plies between _Imatra_ and _Rattijarvi_, some twenty miles distant, where we travelled in order to catch the steamer which was to convey us down the famous _Saimen Ca.n.a.l_ back to our delightful _Ilkeasaari_ host, in time for the annual _Johanni_ and the wonderful _Kokko_ fires, more famous in Finland to-day than the Baal fires formerly were in Britain.

It was a beautiful drive; at least we gathered that it would have been a beautiful drive if we had not been shut up in the _Black Maria_. As it was, we were nearly jolted to death on the hardest of hard wooden seats, and arrived stiff, sore, and tired, with aching backs at _Rattijarvi_.

A good dinner, however, soon made us forget our miseries, though it really seemed as if we had come in a prison van, when, the moment our _Black Maria_ drew up at the small inn, a man rushed down the steps, seized upon our poor friend the _Magister_ and began, violently gesticulating, to explain something about money.

What on earth had the poor _Magister_ done that he should be jumped on in this way? Were we criminals without our knowledge, and was this our jailor who stood gesticulating, and scowling, and waving his arms about in excitement? We felt we must immediately produce our pa.s.sports to prove our respectability, and, strong in our knowledge of innocence, were quite prepared to maintain our rights of freedom in spite of the appearance of any limb of Finnish law.

After all, it proved to be a mere flash in the pan. Explanation was soon vouchsafed. We had driven that morning in a private carriage to _Wallinkoski_ to see the wonderful fall below _Imatra_, and the landlord, having forgotten to charge that journey in the bill, had allowed us to leave _Imatra_ without paying for his beautiful equipage; discovering his mistake, however, as soon as our backs were turned, he had telephoned to the inn that we should send back the money by _Black Maria_. Though we had so dishonestly departed without paying our just debts, nothing worse came of the matter.

We might have been locked up in a Finnish prison!

We paid in coin for the carriage, and by our profound grat.i.tude to the _Magister_ and Grandpapa, who had added so ably to our enjoyment. Our time together for the moment was over, and once more my sister and I were alone.

CHAPTER IX

"KOKKO" FIRES

As we stood on the little pier at _Rattijarvi_, waiting for the steamer which was to bear us down the beautiful _Saimen Ca.n.a.l_, we were somewhat horrified to find that the only other probable pa.s.sengers were two men, both of whom were practically unable to keep on their feet. In honour of the day they had apparently been having a jollification, and it will ever remain a marvel to us that they did not tumble over the side of the pier--which had no railing--into the water beneath.

It seemed almost impossible, under the circ.u.mstances, to believe that in the rural districts of Finland generally there are no licensed houses, except in a few health resorts, where a medical man is stationed. Also at a few railway stations _bona fide_ travellers may be supplied. There is a strict law against importing spirits at all into Finland, while if more than ten litres are sent from one place to another in the country they are "subject to control." Indeed, no person, unless licensed to sell spirits, is allowed to keep more than six litres in his house for every grown-up individual living in the establishment; and the same rigorous rules that apply to spirits are enforced against liqueurs which, when tried at a temperature of 15 Celsius, are found to contain more than twenty-two per cent. of alcohol.

The temperance regulations are most stringent, and yet we are reluctantly obliged to own we saw a vast amount of drunkenness in _Suomi_. Small wonder, then, that the moment women became members of Parliament the first thing they did was to legislate for the diminution of this lack of sobriety.

The Civic Authorities can, and do, give the whole trade of wine, spirits, and liqueurs as a monopoly for two consecutive years to companies who undertake to sell, not for their own gain, but "in the interests of morality and sobriety;" three-fifths of the profits being paid to the town for general purposes of usefulness, and the remaining two-fifths to the State.

As regards beer--in the country the County Councils rule the selling, in the towns the Civic Authorities. The brewers are, however, allowed to sell beer, provided they do not give more than twenty-five litres to one person.

The Senate or the Governor can, in some cases, grant special licenses, to sell wines and spirits to bathing-places, steamers, etc.,--from all of which careful, not to say stringent, regulations, it may be inferred that Finland is rigorous as regards the drink question; wherefore strangers feel all the more surprised to meet inebriates so constantly, as we must, unfortunately, admit was the case when we were in Finland.

The two men rolling about at the end of the pier and, singing l.u.s.tily, sadly disturbed our peace of mind, for my sister and I were going back to _Ilkeasaari_ alone, and as they seemed likely to be our only companions, we felt a couple of hours spent in such society would be rather more than we cared for. They might be affectionate or abusive, or they might even commit suicide, they were so deadly drunk.

Ah! what was that? Emerging from a lock came a bower of greenery rather than a steamer. The little ship was literally covered, not only with branches, but with whole birch-trees, and very pretty she looked as she glided towards us, decorated for the famous _Juhannus-ilta_ (Midsummer Day).

Taking hasty farewells of Grandpapa and the _Magister_, whom we were to meet again a week or two later, we hurried on board, and found to our joy that the unsteady Finlanders were not allowed to follow us. With a puff and a whistle the steamer left such undesirable pa.s.sengers behind, and the last we saw of them was fighting and struggling with one another, each man apparently imagining, in his muddled imbecility, that his own companion had kept him from going on board, whereas in reality the ticket-collector, now safely journeying with us, was the sole offender.

It is a delightful journey down the famous _Saimen Ca.n.a.l_, and there was a particular charm about it that night, because, as evening advanced, great beacon fires illuminated the scene.

This _Ca.n.a.l_, which took eleven years to make, is very beautiful. It pa.s.ses through twenty-eight locks, generally with a fall of about nine feet for each; that is to say, the entire fall is nearly three hundred feet. The ca.n.a.l is only wide enough for one ship to pa.s.s at a time, except at the _crossing_ places; and when steamers pa.s.s up or down, all other traffic has to draw into one of these sidings.

We thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful night as we glided over that wonderful achievement of engineering skill. The locks were only just large enough to admit our steamer, and it really seemed as if but a few inches at either end and at the sides were to spare.

It was Midsummer Day; the greatest day of the whole year in a Finn's estimation. Hence the decorations. We pa.s.sed steamers all gaily festooned with the sacred birch, as our own little ship, and huge barges of wood ornamented in similar fashion floating down to the sea.

Picturesque little girls, with handkerchiefs tied over their heads, were running about on the banks selling wild strawberries. They were dressed in long skirts, which hung to their ankles, and wore no shoes or stockings.

In spite of the terrific thunderstorm on the previous night, the thermometer had stood all day at about 96 in the shade. As we glided along, a lurid black sky looked threatening behind us, while forked lightning--such forked lightning as we had never seen before--played games in the heavens. And yet, at the self-same time, on the other side was to be seen one of the most glorious sunsets that can possibly be imagined; one of those marvellous bits of colour which make those who behold it feel how inadequate are brush and canvas to reproduce such glorious tones.

These Finland skies and glorious nights, almost midnight suns, in June, July, and August, are worth the journey. The sunrises and sunsets of the Arctic are more beautiful than in the Tropics.

We were now returning to finish our visit at _Ilkeasaari_, and, it being the Finnish Midsummer Day, we had been compelled to hurry our trip from _Sordavala_ somewhat, so as to be back in time to see the famous pagan _Kokko_ fires.

As is well known, it was--till comparatively recent times--the custom even in England to light on St. John's Eve _Bael_ or _Baal_ fires, which were really a survival of pagan Sun Worship. All over Finland _Bael_ fires are still lighted on _Juhannus-ilta_ (Midsummer Eve).

The people look forward from year to year to these _Kokko_ fires, as _Juhanni_ is the great festival both for rich and poor. All is bustle and confusion on the 23rd of June, preparing for the event. Then comes the lighting of the _Kokko_, and, later in the evening, the _bond-dans_ or ball--no one apparently going to bed that night--which ball is followed by a universal holiday.

As to the origin of the _Kokko_ fires, no one in Finland seems very certain. The custom must be a very ancient one, though it is continued universally in that little-known country to the present day. As a rule, the bonfire is lit on the top of a hill, or in places where there is water at the water's edge, preferably on a small island, or sometimes on a raft which, when ignited, is floated out over the surface of the lake.

The 24th of June being about the brightest day in a land where, at that time of year, it is everlasting daylight, the effect of the brilliant artificial illumination is marred in consequence of the absence of a gloomy, weird, and mysteriously indistinct background of night, the sky in those high lat.i.tudes being, during the summer nights, never darker than it is in England at dawn. Nevertheless, the _Kokko_ are so big that they a.s.sert themselves, and as we sailed down the ca.n.a.l we must have pa.s.sed a dozen or more of those flaming beacons. It is difficult to estimate their size. Wood in Finland is comparatively valueless; tar is literally made on the premises; consequently old tar-barrels are placed one on the top of another, branches, and even trunks of trees, surmount the whole, and the erection is some twenty or thirty feet high before it is ignited. Imagine, then, the flames that ascend when once the magic match fires the much-betarred heap.

For hours and hours those _Kokko_ fires burnt. Indeed, it would be considered ill luck if they did not smoulder through the whole of the night. And it is round such festive flames that the peasant folks gather to dance and sing and play games, and generally celebrate the festival of the ancient G.o.d _Bael_. The large landed proprietors invite their tenantry to these great ceremonies, and for hours before it is time to light the fire, boats are arriving laden with guests.

When we landed about ten o'clock on the private pier at _Ilkeasaari_, at which we had asked our captain to set us ash.o.r.e, we were warmly met by our former hostess, and told that their _Kokko_ was ready and only waiting our arrival to be ignited. So away we all sped to the other side of the island to see the fun.

All the members of the family had a.s.sembled--some thirty or forty people, in fact, for Finland is famous for big families--and tables of cakes and coffee were spread at a point from which every one could see the enormous _Kokko_, as high as a haystack, standing on a lonely rock in the water. The boatmen went off and lighted it, having thrown turpentine over the dried branches, and stacked up tar-barrels, so that it might the more readily catch fire, and in a few moments huge volumes of smoke began to ascend, and the flames danced high into the heavens.

Great tongues of fire leapt and sprung on high, only to be reflected in all their glory in the smooth waters below. Peering down an avenue of pine-trees to the lake beyond, that fire looked very grand--a splendid relic of ancient heathenism.

Every one sang as the _Kokko_ burst into flame. The General of the garrison, the dapper young lieutenant, the dear old grandmother, the men and women students of the party in their pretty white caps, the children dressed as dear little Swedish peasants--all joined the choruses; while behind were the servants and the real peasants themselves. The tenants had come over the water to enjoy the fun at their master's home in boats so gaily decorated and garnished with huge boughs of the sacred birch-tree that the boat itself was almost hidden. Finnish singing is generally rather weird chanting, sad and melancholy, but not without a strange fascination, and the way a number of odd people in that huge a.s.sembly could sing together, each taking his or her own part, without any previous practice, again showed the marvellous amount of music inborn in the Finlander.

It was a beautiful night. The rich shades of the sunset fighting the warm colours of the flames, the gurgling of the water, and the surging of the peasants' boats, or the swish of their oars as they rowed to the festival in gay holiday attire, was something to be remembered--something picturesque and almost barbaric. The surroundings were poetical, the scene weird, the music delightful, and a glowing l.u.s.tre overspread it all as the ascending flames shed lurid lights on the faces of the spectators, while the rocks on which we stood reflected the warm colours caught by the trunks of the pine-trees, whose tops soared heavenwards as though trying to kiss the fleeting clouds.

Laughter and merriment rent the air, as youth mingled with age, riches with poverty, in true happiness, for was it not _Juhannus-ilta_--a night when all must be gay!

Gradually, as the time wore on, the fires burnt low, the lights and reflections became less and less distinct on the water, the shadows of evening fell, and the dew of night was in the air; then, and not till then, did we repair to a huge room adjoining the house, used for the grandchildren to play in during summer, or for weddings and such like festivals, and here the family, the guests, the servants, and the peasants danced. It was like a tenants' ball at a Scotch castle or Irish domain, with a touch of greater novelty. Finnish dances are strange; a young man spies a young woman, he rushes at her, seizes her by the waist, dances l.u.s.tily, and then lets her go as if she were a hot potato.

But that night there was a hero--a real live hero--the native of a neighbouring village, who had been away in America for seven years, and just returned rich and prosperous, and full of adventures, to his fatherland. His advent had been awaited with keen interest by all the village maids; rivalry for his favours ran rife. Every girl in the place was dying to talk to him, to dance with him, and he, in return, told them "how beautiful every woman was in America, how they talked, and sang, and danced, and laughed, and how America was enchanting," until all the maids grew jealous.

We slipped off to bed at midnight, tired after our tedious journey, and anxious to read quietly the bundles of letters from folk at home, which had been awaiting our return, but the _bond-dans_ went on till breakfast-time, for a Finn who cannot dance the _jenka_ all through the midsummer night is not considered worthy of his country.

The festivals continued all the next day for those who were not too sleepy to enjoy them.

CHAPTER X