THE SCANDINAVIAN MOUNTAINS. 121 
for in this way the value of observations on which the answer 
must depend will be most effectually tested. 
While looking at the map (PI. IV.) on which the furrows in the 
south of Sweden are traced, we cannot refrain from asking this 
question: Has the boulder-flood come from the highest tops of 
the mountains of this country, and thence taken its course in all 
directions ; or, has it come still further from the north, and gone 
over the whole country ; at least so much of it as lay under the 
level of the flood? But the map also shows, that we can hope 
for an answer to these preliminary questions, only when the 
furrows shall have been observed in the north of Sweden, in 
Norway, and Finland, and possibly from thence find a solution 
of the principal question. For a more general answer, it will 
probably be necessary to observe the petridelaunian pheenomena 
in Russia and North America, where it is already known they 
are to be found. 
Something, however, may be said hypothetically, judging from 
the experience already acquired. 
If we observe the direction of the furrows around Fahlun and 
Uddevalla, as well as around Westervik, these would appear to 
show that the flood had come from the highest land, and had 
flowed down from thence on all sides. Whether this occurred 
when the land-ridges were elevated, or after the land-ridges had 
attained their height, from a water-spout or something similar, 
is a question which will first admit of being answered, when it 
has been ascertained whether the water streamed in all direc- 
tions. 
It is possible that it happened, as maintained by Keferstein 
and other geologists; but except the circumstance mentioned 
of the direction of the furrows, no other known fact speaks for 
it. We shall see what experience in some instances says on this 
head. 
a. The highest points of land in Scandinavia lie at Snohattan, 
north-west from Christiania; the furrows at the last-named 
place should therefore run towards the south-east; whereas 
they go towards the south-west, or at right angles with the hy- 
pothetical direction. 
b. In the same way the boulder-flood should, if it had de- 
scended at Gefle, have gone towards the south-east; but here 
also, as well as along the northern coast of Uppland, the furrows 
