NOKWAY IN 1865 117 



In 1865 practically the whole journey was by 

 carriole. 



Our first step on arrival at Christiania was to 

 call upon Bennett, then the " Cook " of Norway, and 

 buy two second-hand carrioles for our use upon the 

 trip. At that time the convenient little stolkjaerres, 

 holding two side by side, which have now nearly sup- 

 planted the primitive vehicle, were not in existence. 

 A travelling party had to go in single file along the 

 road, each member occupying a separate conveyance. 

 Portmanteaus and bags were strapped upon the little 

 board behind the seat, and the skydskarl who accom- 

 panied you on each stage to take back the horses 

 perched himself or herself upon it. These attendants 

 might be of any age or sex ; sometimes a tiny urchin, 

 sometimes a venerable crone, would undertake the duty. 

 One feature they all had in common a love of, and 

 care for, their four-footed charges. If you hurried the 

 little grass-fed beasts along a stage, frowning faces 

 and muttered exclamations would convey their 

 rebuke ; and no liberality in the way of tips, 

 " drinke-penge," would make up for what they not 

 unjustly regarded as cruelty to animals. The patient 

 sure-footed dun beasts are still fortunate in their 

 masters. 



Our preparations did not take long, and on the 

 second day we went by rail as far as Eidsvold, 

 then the terminus of the line, and thence on by 

 steamer over the Miosen Lake as far as Lillehammer. 

 Our whole stock of Norwegian consisted in the few 

 phrases contained in Bennett's guide-book, but Nor- 

 wegian good-nature and English impudence carried 

 us safely through our enterprise. We often had to 



