AN ARCTIC RESIDENCE 251 



for have we not also some of the old Viking blood 

 in our veins, which stirs at tales of noble deeds in 

 flood, f jeld and sea ? Those of us, too, who have 

 spent happy days with rod and gun with the 

 charming folk of the forest, mountain and river, do 

 not forget the true friendship of the farmers, 

 hunters and simple peasants who shared our joys. 

 There are, in fact, no more delightful people in 

 Europe than the Namdalen farmers or their poorer 

 brethren the " husmaend," who till the soil, and, 

 sad though they often are, influenced by their 

 grand and gloomy surroundings, there is a sweet 

 melancholy about them which is as attractive as 

 their kindly friendship. During eight seasons I 

 had wandered amongst them, from Saetersdal to 

 the Lofodens, now fishing or hunting the bear, 

 the elk or the reindeer, and everywhere I learnt to 

 love these people — 



Country beloved, of the cloud-kissing ranges. 

 Bountiful vales and munificent sea, 

 Eager we plight thee the troth that ne'er changes — 

 Ask it, our blood shall be lavished for thee." 



Bjerregard. 



In Christiania you will find a highly-educated 

 and refined race of northern people whose lives 

 and ambitions are dominated by the best senti- 

 ments of European culture. It is the home of 

 art, literature, science and history, and its society 

 of clever men and women are without that stulti- 

 fying apathy and exclusiveness you often find in 

 London, for instance. You have only to exhibit 

 a desire to discuss such matters in a broad-minded 

 spirit in Christiania, and you will be at once received 



