ALTEN, IIAMMERFEST, &C. 473 



instrument during the ascent we were prevented from doing 

 so. It was fortunate for us that our homeward way lay down- 

 hill, for we were so heavily laden with minerals, &c. as hardly 

 to be able to walk. We reached Bossekop very much fatigued, 

 and intending to go at once to bed, but we found our kind 

 hostess absent, and a message left for us to follow her to spend 

 the evening at the Fogedtgaard. Luckily this was at no great 

 distance ; so, after renovating our dress as far as possible, we 

 bent our steps there. We were most hospitably received ; 

 and in listening to the delightful songs of Frue Gruntwyt and 

 her sister Jomfrue Stabell, we soon forgot the fatigues of the 

 day. Among other airs I was delighted to hear my great 

 favourite " Una voce poco fa," which I think even pleased me 

 more (coming thus unexpectedly in such a remote spot) than 

 when I had last heard it warbled by Grisi within the charmed 

 circle of the King s Theatre. 



4th. — A picnic party having been agreed upon, it was 

 determined to visit the Sandfall, a very beautiful and remark- 

 able spot, near the mouth of the Alten river. This is a sin- 

 gular flat-topped ridge, running for several miles parallel to 

 the Fiord, and only a short distance from it. The side 

 next the water is very steep, but covered with trees, while the 

 inland declivity is less abrupt. The breadth cannot be above 

 one hundred yards, although in some places it varies con- 

 siderably. At the extremity, the Alten river, making an abrupt 

 curve, washes its base ; in fact, evidently has cut off a portion, 

 and by this section has disclosed its structure. This singu- 

 lar ridge is composed of sand and rolled pebbles of various 

 sizes, evidently deposited gradually, as the different sti'ata plainly 

 show. Its height at the truncated end, which is nearly perpen- 

 dicular, must be at least one hundred feet. The view from the 

 extremity is most splendid. The head of the Fiord, backed by 

 richly wooded cliffs and high mountains, the magnificent valley 

 of the Alten river stretching away in the distance, the river 

 winding its way through beautiful meadows and dense forests, 

 with the pretty villages of Elvebachen and Upper Alten on its 

 banks, altogether combined to form one of the loveliest pro- 

 spects I ever beheld. However, we could not, even amid all 

 these beauties, forget our provision baskets, and were soon 

 seated hard at work on all the good things Madame Klerck 

 had liberally provided. These were accompanied by liba- 



