242 SPORT IN NORWAY. 



directions. The most remarkable instance of this sort 

 is to be found in Lassjovaerks Vand, which is 2,050 

 feet above the sea, and is the source of the Baunia run- 

 ning through the valley of Komsdal, and the Laagen 

 which flows through Gudbrandsdal and enters the 

 Miosen at Lillehammer (vide p. 40). From a large fjeld 

 niorass, called the Kol, in the highlands of Hardanger 

 eight rivers take their rise, running t in different directions. 



The whole country abounds in morasses, many of 

 which are capable of being reclaimed for agricultural 

 purposes, but which in their present state exercise 

 an injurious effect upon cultivation. For instance, 

 in the " stift," or diocese of Christiania, which com- 

 prises about one-fourth of the whole superficial area 

 of the country, there are not less than 1,156 square 

 miles of marshy ground be^ow, and 764 square miles 

 above the limit of corn. And although of late years 

 the forests have been much reduced, yet they still 

 occupy a very considerable proportion of the superficial 

 area of the country. 



Hence, it may readily be seen that the extent of 

 tillable land in Norway is proportionately insignificant ; 

 in fact, not exceeding 1,060 square miles, or less than 

 j-^-th part of the whole superficial area.* But still, 



* The population by the last census amounted to nearly 1,500,000 

 souls. Of grain of different sorts, 65(3,993 imperial quarters weru 

 imported; 1 5,378,535 Ibs. rye meal ; 2,776,086 Ibs. flour ; 71,726 Ibs. 

 flour; and 205,537 ]Ks. grits. 



