Vadsasth and Svardal. 187 



The banks of the river are well timbered with birch 

 and pine, and the hay-grass and cereals flourish in this 

 humid basin, and are ripened by the intense heat which 

 beats straight down, and is reflected by the rocky walls 

 which almost suiTOund the dale, while the remnant of last 

 winter's snow yet remains upon the mountain summits, 

 as if to bear witness that the sun does not always shine 

 in Svardal. 



In fine summer weather it can be very hot in Svardal ; 

 for, situated as it were in the bottom of a teacup, the heat 

 cannot easily escape, and is reflected by the rocky walls 

 around. 



The crops were both rich and abundant, apparently 

 well-grown in a humid atmosphere and excellent land ; 

 and under such circumstances our landlord, who was the 

 largest landowner, was said to be a man of means. 



The house was comfortable enough, and, not being 

 encumbered with carpets or curtains, was fairly cool. The 

 furniture included tables, chairs, and beds — or, rather, 

 boxes without lids. The bedrooms were very small, and 

 the beds were unfortunately made of proportions to suit 

 the size of the rooms, instead of the length of the sleeper, 

 and being but about four feet long, it was necessary to 

 roll one's self up into a ball in order to rest upon the 

 moss-stuff'ed mattresses and pillows which furnished 

 them. 



