I.K. Inha - Photo Set 4 (The Everyday)

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Four plates from the book

Suomi Kuvissa (Pictorial Finland)

by photographer I.K. Inha, 1895-1896:

Secret distillery.

It is hard for the people to forget the times, when they could distil brandy, and equally difficult to forget the art of its preparation. As brandy has besides become more and more difficult to procure, the illicit still is in many districts a besetting sin. Where the proper utensils for distillation cannot be had, ordinary pots are utilized, and the tubes are made of sheet iron. In summer the still is erected by a spring, from which cold water is got for the condenser, — in winter they use snow for this purpose. The »forest-nectar's» boiler is never far away from the most distant wood-cutters and floaters.

Lynx hunting.

In the middle of winter, ere the frozen snow will bear a dog, hunting the lynx is carried on in the following way; two men on snow-skates chase the animal, till it drops of fatigue. Hunting the lynx by running on snow-skates, is a sport demanding quite unusual powers. When the animal is hard pressed, it takes refuge in a dense forest of spruce-firs or on rough hilly ground, where it is difficult to pursue it. During their break-neck pace the hunters, heated in the chase, throw off the one outer garment after the other, taking no heed of the frost, which covers their warm bodies with rime. A third man, who snow-skates after them, gathers together the clothes and carries the gun, wherewith the lynx shall be shot, in case the hunters have not already killed it with their strong staves.

Fishing at a hole in the ice.

Up, down, round about, everywhere enormous masses of snow, and fantastical snow-men meet the gaze on all sides. The forest has a heavy burden to bear. The young spruces are to be pitied, whilst they so humbly and deeply bow their heads. One could believe they would never more raise themselves. Bat as the sun arises higher and the weather becomes milder, the snowy covering is opened. Thence peeps forth a fresh, sprightly tree-top, and every bough shakes off its snowy bonds.

Cottage interior from Replot.

The population on the seaboard near Wasa support themselves chiefly by the produce of the sea; the children begin at an early age to get into the habit of helping their parents and thus learn to know the various branches of fishing life. Those who cannot yet make nets, try at least to make themselves useful in threading the netting-needles. The cottage is furnished in the same manner as everywhere along the south-eastern coast of the Gulf of Bothnia. The floor is carpeted and cleanliness prevails everywhere. The most conspicuous article of furniture is a gigantic curtained bedstead, in one end of which cupboards and shelves are fitted, and which contain the crockery-ware of the household