THE SAIMA SEE. 17 



wondrous appearance of the Geysers of Iceland : frozen 

 Geysers these, arrested by the frost, as they are said to 

 be caught by the instantaneous glance of the camera of 

 the photographer ! 



At the time of my visit the leafy month of June all 

 was verdant, but the verdure was not of an uniform tint. 

 Directing the attention of two of my fellow- voyagers in 

 these upper reaches the one a landed proprietor in the 

 district, the other the factor or head manager of extensive 

 estates there to the comparatively young appearance of 

 the trees on the shore, and asking them what was the 

 cause of this, both at once said it was a consequence of 

 the practice of Sevanje. 



I shall afterwards discuss at some length this mode of 

 treating forests, to extend my acquaintance with which 

 was one of my purposes in seeking to make myself 

 acquainted with the forestry of Finland. It may suffice 

 here to state that it consists in burning down a portion of 

 forest, and for two, three, or more years, sowing the charred 

 ground with cereals ; then when the crops produced cease 

 to be satisfactory, clearing in the same way another portion 

 of forest, and treating the charred ground in a like manner. 



It is practised extensively in the north of Europe. In 

 Sweden it is also called Sevanje; in France it is known 

 as Sartage ; in India as Koomaree. My fellow-travellers 

 pointed out to me how might be distinguished different 

 spots within sight, some burnt over by accidental fires, 

 others shortly before subjected to this operation, others 

 recovering from having been so treated some twenty or 

 thirty years before, and others uninjured virgin forests. 



From these gentlemen I learned that in that district, 

 and also elsewhere on similar islands and wooded coasts 

 in Finland, accidental fires are frequently occasioned by 

 fishermen landing, kindling a fire to cook their victuals, 

 and carelessly leaving this unextinguished. Those who 

 kindle fires either thus or in connection with the practice 

 of Sevanje, are pecuniarily responsible for all consequences^ 



G 



