THE SAIMA SEE. 17 
wondrous appearance of the Geysers of Iceland: frozen 
Geysers these, arrested by the frost, as they are said to 
be caught by the instantaneous glance of the camera of 
the photographer ! 
At the time of my visit—the leafy month of June—all 
was verdant, but the verdure was not of an uniform tint. 
Directing the attention of two of my fellow-voyagers in 
these upper reaches—the: one a landed proprietor in’ the 
district, the other the factor or head manager of extensive 
estates there—to the comparatively young appearance of 
the trees on the shore, and asking them what was the 
cause of this, both at once said it was a consequence of 
the practice of Sevanje. 
I shall afterwards discuss at some length this mode of 
treating forests, to extend my acquaintance with which 
was one of my purposes in seeking to make myself 
acquainted with the forestry of Finland. It may suffice 
here to state that it consists in burning down a portion of 
forest, and for two, three, or more years, sowing the charred 
ground with cereals ; then when the crops produced cease 
to be satisfactory, clearing i in the same way another portion 
of forest, and treating the charred ground in a like manner. 
It is practised extensively in the north of Europe. In 
Sweden it is also called Sevanje; in France it is known 
as Sartage; in India as Koomaree. My fellow-travellers 
pointed out to me how might be distinguished different 
spots within sight, some burnt over by accidental fires,. 
others shortly before subjected to this operation, others 
recovering from having been so treated some twenty or 
thirty years before, and others uninjured virgin forests. 
From these gentlemen I learned that in that district, 
and also elsewhere on similar ‘islands and wooded coasts 
in Finland, accidental fires are frequently occasioned by 
fishermen landing, kindling a fire to cook their victuals, 
and carelessly leaving this unextinguished. Those who 
kindle fires either thus or in connection with the practice 
of Sevanje, are pecuniarily responsible for all consequences, 
Cc 
