SKETCHES FROM SX TERSDAL. 213 
which gives them a kémmager* appearance. The trou- 
sers, which are as narrow below as they are wide above, 
and reach only to the small of the leg, are trimmed at 
the bottoms with broad green ribbons, and buttoned at 
the side, leaving the thick white stockings visible above 
the shoes. In the winter they wear a sort of white 
woollen gaiter reaching to the knee, stitched at the 
sides and tops with broad dark cords. In the summer, 
however, adapting himself to the heat, he lets down a 
part of his trousers from under the arms, thus exposing 
on either side a triangular patch of not over clean linen. 
In this way, in the most practical manner possible, he 
adapts his huge: trousers to the different seasons of the 
year. 
The national costume of the women has, however, 
undergone no such changes. Unlike their sisters in 
other parts of Europe, they pride themselves on adher- 
ing to antiquated customs; and, it must be owned, the 
dress of the Sztersdal woman, which remains quite 
unchanged since the days of Axild, is both characteristic 
and pretty. The short skirts, which reach only as far 
as the knee, with closely-sewn folds, have a peculiar 
crinoline appearance about them; while the red silk 
kerchief which is gracefully thrown over the head, the 
* Koémmager, a shoe peculiar to Iceland, with a turned-up peaked 
toe, something like a Chinese slipper. It is made of reindeer skin, 
the head being only used. It is, I believe, universally worn by the 
Lapps and Finns in winter. 
