182 FORESTRY OF NORWAY. 
‘On the morning of departure the cows, sheep, goats, and 
a pig or two are watched by the children to keep them 
from straying far away. If the farm is small, and the 
people poor, all the family go to the saetar till harvesting 
takes place, The mother is often seen carrying on her 
back the last baby. Before starting the mother prepares 
an extra good meal for the farm-hands, or that part of the 
family who are to accompany the saeter girls—the daughter 
or girls hired for the season. Those who take the lead 
often carry long horns by whose shrill tones the animals 
are called to follow, salt being given to them, now and then, 
to coax them on, and the children keep them in line.’ 
” Of his visit to the saeters he tells :—‘ In the beginning 
of July I left the old city of Stavanger. . . . The sail 
on the fiord was very interesting. After a trip of twelve 
hours we came to the end of Sands fiord, a branch of the 
Stavanger; here I landed with my guide, Samson Fiskek- 
joen, who had been recommended to me as trusty, and well- 
acquainted with the mountains. . . . After a drive of 
two hours through the picturesque valley of Suledal, along 
the clear river, we reached his farm, where we found his 
father, then eighty years old, splitting wood with a strength 
which augured well for a life of twenty yearsat least. The 
old couple received me with great kindness. 
‘A number of farms were scattered about, and in sight 
was the church; a short walk brought me to the parsonage. 
aa . During my absence a complete metamorphosis was 
effected in the farm-house, and everything was tidy and 
clean; bread, butter, cheese, and sour milk were on the 
table, and the good people excused themselves for having 
no sweet milk, as the cows were far away in the mountains, 
I slept with my door wide open, for the night was very 
warm ; I do not think they slept at all, as coffee was ready 
for me at four in the morning. They pressed me to eat, 
as the journey before me was a long one. 
‘T left with two boatmen. We had notsailed far before 
we came abreast of a comfortable white-painted house, the 
