24 FORESTRY OF NORWAY. 
Bolke, of a triangular shape, 1000 feet; and a little beyond 
this the Tol, 690 feet above the sea level. Everywhere 
little streams trickled down the hill-side, filling the air 
with the sweet music of their waters. The house and its 
inhabitants he found to be not less interesting than the 
house was beautifully situated. About seventeen miles 
west of this farm he came upon the lower end of Tin 
lake, upon which there plies a little steamer; and he 
tells :—‘ The shores of the lake are thoroughly Norwegian, 
-with rugged mountains covered with forests to their very 
tops. Toward the northern portion of the western shore 
‘one enters a part of the lake called Vestfiord, running east 
and west; the scenery increases in beauty, the landscape 
reminding one of the Hardanger. Leading from this fiord 
is a fine narrow valley called Vestfiordal, on the left of 
which Gaustad rises 6000 feet high. It is celebrated for 
the Ryukandfoss, at its end, one of Norway’s highest and 
most beautiful waterfalls. The valley terminates abruptly, 
closed by gigantic walls, but the spray of the turbulent 
waters is seen long before the fall is reached. The 
Ryukandfoss [reeking or smoking waterfall], plunges into 
a chasm from a height of 780 feet over a perpendicular 
ledge on the table-land. It is formed by the river Maan, 
which rises in the Mjoes Vand. The sight is appalling as 
the eye seeks the depth below amidst the roar of the 
waters: it is a fascinating spot.’ 
Perhaps we too may find it fascinating, so fascinating 
as to lead us to loiter by the way, and forget the length 
of the journey which is before us; but I do not suppose 
any one will find the time mis-spent. 
To make more intelligible the account of this region 
which I have to give, I may premise that in the northern 
portion of Norway the land presents the appearance of 
table-lands, or comparatively level plateaux, cut up by 
what may be called ravines rather than valleys, which are 
sometimes more than a thousand feet in depth ; these can 
only. be crossed by zigzag tracks or roads, descending the 
