48 TRAVEL, ADVENTUEE, AND SPOET. 



neck with a result easily imagined. How we got 

 clear I never to this day can determine ; but somehow 

 or other down that hill we did get, and after half an 

 hour's driving, found ourselves safe and sound in the 

 hospitable shelter of Polmak. 



Polmak is the abode of the river opsynamand or 

 superintendent, and lies on the right bank of the river 

 Tana, which is here joined by the smaller Polmak 

 river. At this place we exchanged our deer for small 

 Finmarken horses, the road further on being badly 

 suited for reindeer. The opsynsmand was one of the 

 most curious fellows I ever fell in with. Popularly 

 supposed to have " a bee in his bonnet," his conduct 

 on this occasion by no means belied that accusation. 

 On the contrary, he seemed a much fitter inmate for 

 an asylum than the occupant of a government situa- 

 tion. As an example of his stupidity or madness, I 

 know not which, it will suffice to say that he solemnly 

 declared that the water of Polmak contained more 

 strength (sic) than that of Tana, as he found he did 

 not require to put so much spirit in it when brewing 

 his usual glass of toddy. K"o amount of reasoning, 

 or cajoling, or threatening ay, nor of ridicule, that 

 strongest shaft of all could drive this idea out of 

 him. 



The opsynsmand had, however, at this time com- 

 mitted a very serious mistake. He had openly 

 declared his intention, by fair means or foul, to pro- 

 mote and further the scheme of delivering over the 



