Surendal. 167 



12 lbs., all but one falling victims to the minnow or 

 spoon ; but it was a sultry evening, and the fish rose 

 badly. 



With excellent appetites, we returned to find our 

 camp, situated near the Ijrink of the lake, beside a rocky 

 burn, one of many which drained the surrounding fjelds, 

 and charged this natural reservoir with their peat-stained 

 waters. 



I have never seen a more deeply-tinted water, for, 

 while bathing, one's legs appeared of the colour of old 

 ale, when but a foot below the surface. 



The lake was about l-l miles long, and varied in width 

 from 200 to 500 yards. The shore-line was irregular, and 

 for the most part deeply fringed with trees and shrubs ; 

 similarly ornamented were the many small islands, at 

 irregular intervals, piercing the surface, and affording 

 breeding places for the water-fowl frequenting the lake 

 for that purpose. 



The liottom of the basin was composed of slabs of 

 rock and small, tile-like pieces of stone, which in many 

 places around the shore were laid with the regularity of 

 the slater's hand, and at odd places of the bank beds 

 of rushes flourished ; but, except at the top narrow end, 

 I observed little growth of weed. 



The lake is situated at about the centre of the pro- 

 montory, which extends to the fjord, between Surendal 



