2l8 A Sporting Tour in Norway. [Sess. 



Leaving Hitteren, we took one of the coasting-steamers and 

 sailed to Throndhjem, which is so far north that it is on a line 

 with the south coast of Iceland. After visiting the cathedral, 

 erected in the 12 th century, and other places of interest, we 

 took the train en route for Sweden. On this line we stopped 

 at a station with a name familiar to us all. As we proceeded 

 I was engaged perusing the pages of a " Baedeker," and at p. 

 220, where the route is described, I read, "The train now 

 passes through a short tunnel, and reaches Hell." I must 

 confess I thought it strange to see hell printed in large 

 letters on the station-house, and to hear the porter in a dis- 

 tinct voice calling out the name as he passed the cars. 

 Having some time to wait at this station — as was the rule, 

 indeed, at many stations — I despatched a post-card to a friend 

 at home, beginning thus : " My dear friend, you will see from 

 the post-mark where I have got to at last ! " 



Eeaching Storlien, where we staid for some days, a party of 

 us arranged to cross the mountains, .a journey of five hours, in 

 order to visit a Lapp village. Obtaining a guide, and starting 

 at daybreak, we ascended the hill, wading through bog and 

 morass till we reached the fjeld above. We then pursued our 

 course in a northerly direction, through barren wastes, for a 

 couple of hours, till we came to a small lake from which a flock 

 of wild geese took their departure when we appeared in sight. 

 On some soft mud by the side of the lake we saw what we 

 thought was the track of a large dog, but on getting his eyes 

 on it our guide ejaculated " stor wolf," meaning large wolf. It 

 appears that wherever there is a Lapp village, with their large 

 herds grazing on the surrounding fjelds, a pack of wolves fre- 

 quent the district, the gravid reindeer and the feeble calf falling 

 victims to their rapacity. In these circumstances the Lapps, 

 wrapped in skins and accompanied by their dogs, are obliged 

 to stay out at nights in all weathers for the protection of the 

 herd. When the wolves make an attack, the Lapps on watch 

 are apprised by the violent ringing of bells, a number of the 

 deer having them secured round their necks. Guided by the 

 sound, the Lapps hurry with their dogs to the rescue, and in 

 this manner protect in a great measure their deer from the 

 depredation of wolves. Pushing on, we ascended another hill, 

 and crossed some large patches of eternal snow. By this time 



