VALLEYS. \X ^ 191 / 



\r^7 



the course of ages wider and deeper^^ith well-defined 

 slopes, and already they are the upper portions of the 

 valleys which lie far beneath, into which they lead ; and 

 the thalweg, or valley- course, may be traced by the con- 

 tinuous flow of the water by the rivers, from these stream- 

 lets on the plateaux to the mouth of these, by which the 

 water of a million rills, or a million million of them, 

 flows into the sea. 



Treating lakes as we have done, as expansions of rivu- 

 lets or rivers filling some hollow or valley, we come 

 naturally to consider valleys as river-courses and lake 

 basins ; and such they are in some few cases having sup- 

 plied water leadings and reservoirs ; in most, having been 

 fashioned, if not also formed, by the flow of water or of 

 ice formed, it may be, by the latter, and fashioned by 

 the subsequent water-flow. In the descriptions given 

 both of rivers and of lakes we have found the setting of 

 the picture to be valley scenery ; but the valleys may be 

 described apart. 



Williams, a graphic writer, of whose word paintings I 

 am glad to avail myself, supplies an illustration. In con- 

 tinuation of a narrative which he gives of a journey which 

 he made across the Dovrefjeld and into regions beyond, 

 he writes : ' The road beyond the station [Bjerkager] 

 commands fine views of the valley, a deep ravine, thickly 

 wooded with fir trees, and the river dotted with pine- 

 covered islands. There are many indications of glacier 

 action hereabouts, similar to those in the valley of the 

 Driva, but more extensive and decided. 



' The rich verdure of the Guldbrandsdal prevails over 

 the greater part of the country through which I have 

 walked to-day, and the fields are carpeted with sweet 

 flowers as were those of yesterday. I little expected to find 

 this element of beauty so generally prevalent in the far 

 North.' Passing Soknaes station he writes : ' The road 

 now enters the Guldalen, or valley of the Gula, the view 

 down which is very beautiful. It is a rich cultivated 



