SAETER LIFE. 183 



pleasant home of a Stoithingsmand, where we went ashore. 

 The host was not at home, but his amiable wife, who had 

 heard of my coming this way, had been expecting me, and 

 seemed quite disappointed when she heard 1 had spent the 

 night at the farm of Samson. Though I assured her that 

 I had breakfasted she insisted that I should partake of 

 another. 



' The Sulsdal valley, near the lower extremity of the 

 lake, is exceedingly interesting to the antiquarian, on 

 account of the numerous tumuli, or tombs of heathen times, 

 some of which are hollow, or circular in shape, and sur- 

 rounded by stones, while others are square. As we ascended 

 the lake we could see the paths leading to the saeter, and 

 patches of snow on the mountains. After a pull of four- 

 teen miles we landed at Naes on the right shore, near the 

 upper extremity of the lake, from which there is a horse- 

 path leading to the numerous saeters met between the 

 Suledal and the Poeldal lakes. . . . 



( The path, after leaving Roeldedal, ascended gradually 

 along the Yaldal river, in view on the left bank of the 

 white column of the Risp-Foss ; descending again and 

 crossing the stream on a bridge, we saw on the opposite 

 shore the bridle-path going to Lake Staa and Upper The- 

 lemarken. 



' On the right bank of the Valdai are seen many saeters 

 and paths branching in every direction. The river flows 

 for some distance through a flat country, dotted with fine 

 pastures and small farms. Another stream throws itself 

 into the Valdai, and forms a magnificent cascade of 1000 

 feet, below which the current was so strong that even the 

 horse could hardly keep his footing while fording it. 

 Twelve miles from Foeldal we came in sight of the Valdai 

 lake, the mountains sloping gently to the shore, near which 

 were several saeters. Herds of cattle which had come 

 from the mountains to be milked grazed on the green 

 banks, and on our left high up was the Barken saeter ; 

 while at the head of the lake the smoke curled upwards 

 from the Valdai saeter, and we heard the loud cries of the 



