NOTES ON A SUMMER TOUR IN NORWAY. 85 
to the north is the Hestmand, or giant horseman, also turned 
into stone. 
Northwards from Torghatten, after entering the province of 
Nordland, the coast maintains a character of surpassing interest 
for hundreds of miles, the well-rounded summits and flowing 
outlines of the hills, which are so characteristic of Southern 
Norway, giving place to bold and serrated outlines of great 
picturesqueness. It is very clear that these peaks have not been 
submitted to the abrading action of the great ice-sheet which 
flowed outwards from the central portions of Scandinavia, but that 
they stood well above the level of the ice in bold peaks and 
ridges, whilst their flanks and bases were assuming, under the 
influence of the moving ice, those smooth and rounded contours 
which contrast so greatly with the Alpine ruggedness of their 
summits. 
The Seven Sisters is the name given to an indescribably 
beautiful and rugged chain of mountains in the island of Alstend. 
They are about 3,000 feet high, and consist of mica schist. The 
contrast between the jagged summits and the chafed and 
undulating base upon which the mountains rest is very striking. 
We have long ago left the realms of night behind us, but as we 
are not yet quite within the Arctic Circle, the sun still dips below 
the horizon about half-an-hour before midnight, becoming again 
visible half-an-hour after. The gorgeous and brilliant colouring 
of sea, mountain, and islands under this continuous evening light 
of the northern summer is perfectly indescribable ; and so great is 
the beauty of the ever-changing scene as we steam along, that it 
becomes a difficult matter to take any rest. The inhabitants of 
this northern region never seem to take anysleep. It is no 
uncommon occurrence to see men working in their small farm- 
holdings long past midnight ; and in the town of Tromsé the 
fashionable hour for paying calls appears to be between midnight 
and one o’clock in the morning. The people say there is plenty 
of time to sleep in the winter. 
In the navigable roads between the highlands and the main- 
land we are continually meeting strange-looking, square-built 
