182 FORESTRY OF NORWAY. 



' On the morning of departure the cows, sheep, goats, and 

 a pig or two are watched by the children to keep them 

 from straying far away. If the farm is small, and the 

 people poor, all the family go to the saetar till harvesting 

 takes place, The mother is often seen carrying on her 

 back the last baby. Before starting the mother prepares 

 an extra good meal for the farm-hands, or that part of the 

 family who are to accompany the saeter girls the daughter 

 or girls hired for the season. Those who take the lead 

 often carry long horns by whose shrill tones the animals 

 are called to follow, salt being given to them, now and then, 

 to coax them on, and the children keep them in line.' 



Of his visit to the saeters he tells : * In the beginning 

 of July I left the old city of Stavanger. . . . The sail 

 on the fiord was very interesting. After a trip of twelve 

 hours we came to the end of Sands fiord, a branch of the 

 Stavanger ; here I landed with my guide, Samson Fiskek- 

 joen, who had been recommended to me as trusty, and well- 

 acquainted with the mountains. . . . After a drive of 

 two hours through the picturesque valley of Suledal, along 

 the clear river, we reached his farm, where we found his 

 father, then eighty years old, splitting wood with a strength 

 which augured well for a life of twenty years at least. The 

 old couple received me with great kindness. 



' A number of farms were scattered about, and in sight 

 was the church; a short walk brought me to the parsonage. 

 . . . During my absence a complete metamorphosis was 

 effected in the farm-house, and everything was tidy and 

 clean ; bread, butter, cheese, and sour milk were on the 

 table, and the good people excused themselves for having 

 no sweet milk, as the cows were far away in the mountains. 

 I slept with my door wide open, for the night was very 

 warm ; I do not think they slept at all, as coffee was ready 

 for me at four in the morning. They pressed me to eat, 

 as the journey before me was a long one. 



' I left with two boatmen. We had not sailed far before 

 we came abreast of a comfortable white-painted house, the 



