MECHANICAL ACTION OF GLACIERS. 139 



Marie Stegen, who, we found had disappeared while we 

 were musing on the exciting scene, and on the romantic 

 incident to which is attributed the name which it bears, 

 but of whom I said we might possibly overtake him at 

 the Sogne fiord. 



The Christiania fiord, of which mention has been made 

 in the opening chapter, which treats of the general 

 features of the country, is a continuation of the Skager- 

 rack, and resembles closely the rocky shore scenery 

 through which steamers make their way from Christian- 

 sand to the capital. A very different appearance is 

 presented by the Sogne fiord, and this is more 

 characteristic of the fiords of Norway. 



The Sogne fiord may be visited most conveniently by 

 steamer from Bergen, for which port steamers sail 

 frequently, if not every day, from Christiania. 



M. Du Chaillu, writing of his visit to this fiord, tells : 



1 Of a.ll the fiords of Norway none can rival in size, 

 grandeur, bold outlines, weird and sombre landscape, the 

 magnificent Sogne. No tourist should fail to sail upon 

 its waters. The entrance, which is formed on the west 

 side, by the Sulen Islands and others, is at about 61, 

 and the main course winds its way inland almost directly 

 east. . . . The average breadth of the Sogne varies 

 from three or four to about two miles, and its length, in a 

 direct line, is over three degrees of longitude, or a distance 

 of about eighty-four miles with its windings. 



' There are several lateral branches, extending north 

 and south, besides deep bays or coves. On the northern 

 shore are the Vadeim and Fjaerland, the latter fourteen 

 miles long, the Sogndal ten miles, and the Lyster twenty- 

 four miles; on the southern shore are the Brekke, the 

 Arne, and the Aurland, the latter being sixteen miles 

 long, with its branch, the Naeroe, about six miles. No 

 description can give to the reader an adequate idea of 

 the magnificence of the scenery of these narrow lateral 

 fiords of the Sogne. . . . The route to the Sogne 

 fiord is among so many islands that it often seems as if 



