Prekistoric Ships 39 



centurv. We who travel in the north shall, most of iis, 

 like the Eonians, see the country only in its summer 

 aspect. We shall see often enough the phenomenon 

 which struck the Roman travellers as so wonderful as 

 to be a proof that they had got near the borders of the 

 earth — the light of sunset linoerino; on bright enou2;h 



o 0000 



to dim the light of the stars. But what their imagina- 

 tion likewise saw, the forms of the gods and tlie glory 

 round the head of the sun-god, that is lost to us for 

 ever, not less than the sight of Proteus rising from the 

 sea or Triton blowing his wreathed horn. 



Let the traveller, in passing among the rocky islands 

 and fjords of Norway, note those heavy boats with high 

 prows and squared sails which he will see here and 

 there lying among more modern-looking craft. They 

 have an indescribable air of antiquity about their build, 

 and at once contrast with the numerous boats, of the 

 build that we are accustomed to in our coasting vessels 

 and fishing smacks, which we shall see beside them. 

 For, now-a-days, this more modern species of craft is 

 much the commonest, and the heavy square-sailed 

 boats which I have been describing are oettiug rarer 

 day by day. In an experience extending over only 

 seven years, I can notice a marked decline in them. In 

 the cod-fishing, — especially that of the north, — vessels 

 of this build, but still more like the old Viking ships 

 (in that they have pointed sterns), are still used. The 

 voyager to the North Cape will encounter many of 

 them. But the average tourist may not see many. 

 These old-fashioned boats are a link between us and 

 the remotest past of Scandinavia, a link Mith the 

 ►Scandinavia of Tacitus's day, with the still earlier 



