SKETCHES FROM S.ETERSDAL. 221 



himself, and you will get a naive and astonished reply. 

 " He needn't work, he is rich ; he isn't compelled to 

 do it." They cannot understand why a person works, 

 unless from the greatest necessity. Amongst a people 

 of such idle tendencies, it is very common to find along 

 with this letting out of farms an arrangement made by 

 which the owner secures a maintenance for himself, so 

 as to be able to pursue an idle, slothful, lounging exist- 

 ence ; and it is easy to understand what a depressing 

 influence such a proceeding must have on the value of 

 property, and the progress of agriculture. It has, more- 

 over, a destructive influence on the whole family life, and 

 often by the side of affection for parents, there creeps in 

 an element of calculative speculation on the probable 

 event of their death, so as to set the estate at liberty. 



The Saetersdal peasant (as with all uncivilized people), 

 is greatly addicted to strong drink, and on particular occa- 

 sions at all events at marriages and Christmas feasts 

 there is nothing more common than to see men and 

 women, like the Samoi'edes, drinking together, till at 

 last they roll down in a state of unconscious helplessness. 

 And still by the side of this barbarity, there are to be 

 found traits of a romantic chivalry in their nature, at 

 which one cannot help marvelling. 



In Saetersdal abductions are not uncommon. It is 

 an old custom, and seems to have taken its origin from 

 the desire of forming alliances and connections not 



