SKETCHES FROM S^TERSDAL. 213 



which gives them a kommager * appearance. The trou- 

 sers, which are as narrow below as they are wide above, 

 and reach only to the small of the leg, are trimmed at 

 the bottoms with broad green ribbons, and buttoned at 

 the side, leaving the thick white stockings visible above 

 the shoes. In the winter they wear a sort of white 

 woollen gaiter reaching to the knee, stitched at the 

 sides and tops with broad dark cords. In the summer, 

 however, adapting himself to the heat, he lets down a 

 part of his trousers from under the arms, thus exposing 

 on either side a triangular patch of not over clean linen. 

 In this way, in the most practical manner possible, he 

 adapts his huge trousers to the different seasons of the 

 year. 



The national costume of the women has, however, 

 undergone no such changes. Unlike their sisters in 

 other parts of Europe, they pride themselves on adher- 

 ing to antiquated customs ; and, it must be owned, the 

 dress of the Saetersdal woman, which remains quite 

 unchanged since the days of Axild, is both characteristic 

 and pretty. The short skirts, which reach only as far 

 as the knee, with closely-sewn folds, have a peculiar 

 crinoline appearance about them; while the red silk 

 kerchief which is gracefully thrown over the head, the 



* Kommager, a shoe peculiar to Iceland, with a turncd-up peaked 

 toe, something like a Chinese slipper. It is made of reindeer skin, 

 the head being only used. It is, I believe, universally worn by the 

 Lapps and Finns in winter. 



