'at 



Siirendal. 153 



to observe the divers and oyster-catchers upon our journey 

 up the fjord ere we lay alongside the little quay of Siiren- 

 dalsoren, the village at the estuary of the Surna. 



We were yet some eight miles from our destination, 

 but as our host stepped upon the quay he was welcomed 

 by his neighbours of Giila, who, with hat in hand, empha- 

 sized the pleasure of renewing their acquaintance. 



Courtesies were mutually exchanged, and, having dis- 

 tributed ourselves and our impedimenta over our host's 

 carrioles and carts, we sped away to his estate in 

 Gtila. 



We crossed the river by a bridge which had been 

 completed since our host's previous visit, and here, at so 

 late an hour as midnight, the country-folk turned out in 

 full strength to give expression of their thanks for the 

 kind assistance he had rendered towards the erection of 

 the structure. 



A curious sight it was for a stranger to witness — 

 many scores of men, women, and children arrayed in 

 Sunday best in daylight at 12 a.m. Amidst mutual 

 salutations and echoing cheers we at length pursued our 

 route, and arrived at Giila about 1 a.m. fully prepared for 

 a night's repose. 



The sea-route to Christiansiind, via Stavanger, Bergen, 

 and Molde, is almost entirely conducted through the 

 smooth water of the fjords, or passages of varying width 



