NORWAY. 557 



hole in the roof is closed at pleasure, by 

 means of a square cover, fixed transversely 

 to the end of a pole, which is lifted up 

 from within. 



Clay and stone abound in this neigh- 

 bourhood. The walls of the houses are 

 never built perpendicularly, although tim- 

 bered ; for every beam is crooked, both 

 withinside and without. The barns are 

 small and low, furnished with threshing- 

 floors. 



It is impossible to traverse the Lap- 

 land alps m winter, for the following rea- 

 sons. In the first place, the cold is so 

 intense that nobody could endure it. 

 Next, no reindeer are, at that season, on 

 the alps, but in the forests, the only place 

 where they can procure any food. Thirdly, 

 no reindeer could pass the alps at a 

 stretch, the distance being too great ; and 

 lastly, it would not be possible for a 

 traveller to carry with him the requisite 

 supplies of clothes and provisions. - For 

 these reasons it is generally the custom to 



