Dear friend, Since the letter I wrote to
you from Kuhmo a month ago, I have spent most of my time
in Russia. First I went 70 km from Kuhmo to the church
in Repola and from there 12 d:o to Rukajärvi, 80 km to
Jyskyjärvi, another 80 km to Uhtuva, from there another
15 km to Jyvälahti, a further 30 km to Vuokkiniemi, 30
km to Kivijärvi, from where I finally returned to my side
of the border. I collected poems here and there along
the way and have an entire notebook full of them. They
could certainly provide additions and improvements to
the Kalevala but I have not had time to determine where
I would put which poem. I think it would be best to print
what has now been compiled and to collect more as time
permits. If I now start working on the poems I have collected,
it would delay publication of the poems I have already
completed.
Elias Lönnrot
