A JOURNEY TO FINMARK. 9 



600' above the sea. The island is principally clothed with 

 birch and alder, and throughout lie scattered the neat coun- 

 try-houses of the wealthier inhabitants of Tromso, partially 

 surrounded by meadows and small gardens. 



At that time there were large fields of snow there, reaching 

 almost down to the sea ; indeed, to the north of Throndhjem, 

 snow had been more or less visible all along the coasts. 

 After a small excursion on the island we spent a very plea- 

 sant evenintx at the house of our friend] v travelling; com- 

 panion, the merchant Lampe. It was 1 a.m. before we 

 returned to our steamboat, which was to continue its journey 

 northwards about 8 a. m. 



The country now looked more and more wintry ; the snow 

 was more plentiful, frozen waterfalls hung on the steep sides 

 of the rocks, and some glaciers were pushed down almost to 

 the level of the sea. The form of the rocks was still extra- 

 ordinarily sharp and rugged; it was not till after we had 

 passed Loppen, where we first attained the open Arctic 

 Ocean, and had passed through the long Stjernosund and 

 penetrated into the deep Altenfjord, that we met with those 

 low and softer mountain forms which are continued to the 

 North Cape. 



So we arrived, fortunately, on the 23rd May, at9 a. m., 

 at Bossekop, the destined end of our journey. We found 

 there at the factor's, Herr Dankert Majer, a \ery friendly 

 and good, and (compared with the rather dear Norwegian 

 prices) cheap accommodation. We had a small cottage to 

 ourselves, not far from the main house. The principal dwell- 

 ing-house was on the hill, which rises rather steeply above 

 the Fjord, about 100' above the level of the sea. Below, on 

 the beach, lay the warehouse, as also some fishing-huts ; to 

 the right, on a flat plain, the rather larger house of the 

 doctor, together with the hospital, as also the small house 



