THE ELK IN NORWAY. 131 



the ground behind him at an angle of 45 (about). 

 And though going at such a tremendous velocity, he 

 can steer clear of stumps or trees with marvellous 

 nicety, often jumping as much as eighteen feet when 

 occasion requires it. 



On Sunday the peasants may often be seen in off- 

 lying districts, for instance, in parts of Thelemarken, 

 where there are no roads, coming to church, men, 

 women, and boys; the women frequently carrying 

 babies on their backs, gipsy fashion. In the north, 

 the Lapps, I have been told, leave the babies outside 

 the church to keep them warm. They dig a hole in 

 the snow, and pop them in, leaving a dog to keep 

 guard against any wolves. A friend of mine told me 

 that he has often passed a comfortable night under the 

 snow in preference to going into the filthy huts in 

 parts of Finland. But it is of course dangerous to do 

 so unless well wrapped up, or if the clothes be wet. 



The practised " skie-lober " binds his skie to his foot so 

 as to prevent their slipping ; but for a tyro this would 

 be highly dangerous, as a broken leg or sprained ankle 

 may, and does, frequently, result from travelling with 

 the " skie " fastened. 



It is a most exhilarating exercise ; the rapidity with 

 which one rushes through the clear frosty air has a 

 most wonderful effect on the system. The great danger 

 to guard against is catching cold, which from the 



