NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY, 43 



Another proof of the great height of this mountain, is the ex- 

 tenfive profped from it, in clear weather ; for from Soeltind, a 

 rock Handing in the middle of the road, I had a view of the 

 cataract of the river Bang, in Valders, a diftance of about twelve 

 Norway, or fifteen Danifh miles, but on the other fide my eye 

 reached beyond Hallingdale, on the borders of Waas, confequently 

 the creft of this mountain affords a profpecl of thirty Danifh or 

 German miles. Another proof of the prodigious height of this 

 mountain, is, that it caufes a very fenfible difference, in wind and 

 weather, betwixt the north and fouth fide, of which I have already 

 obferved in another place, that the inhabitants on this fide the 

 mountain feldom have the fame weather or air, as thofe beyond 

 it, the clouds, in ftriking againft the mountain, being repelled,, 

 Hence alfo it is, that the winds, which in the diocefe of Agger- 

 flmus caufe fair weather, in that of Bergen bring rain, and fo 

 vice veria* 



The higheft parts of this whole chain of mountains are every 

 where fo fmooth and level, that if they were not constantly covered 

 with fnow, carriages might travel much eafier than in the lower 

 parts, efpecially on the mountain near Hardanger, over which lies 

 the road to Kongfberg, along which road large herds of cattle are 

 driven, and great quantities of goods carried. But the utmoft cau- 

 tion is neceffary here, on account of the large chafms in the fnow, 

 which hath lain there before the memory of man, and is confoli- 

 dated; thefe chafms, in winter, are covered with loofe fnow, and 

 many perfons not being aware of them, have irrecoverably funk into 

 an abyfs, from whence the only chance of an efcape, is thro' holes 

 made by the birds for their retreat*; therefore part of the moun- 

 tain towards Quenherret, being frequented by fowlers and fportfmen, 

 is therefore called Fuglefang, i. e. the place for bird-catching. Peter 

 Undalin, in his Defcription of Norway, p. 75, fays, that all tra- 

 velling over this mountain is prohibited, except from the inven- 

 tion of the crofs, which is the third of May, to St. Bartholomew, 

 Over Filefield, which is the poll-road, and the road for the king s 



* Such chafms in the fnow are alfo feen in the mountains of Switzerland : " II fe " 



cTL? \ r01t n deS r^ de § lace > &c ' Les allemans les anient 



Gletfcher nous les appellons des glacieres, & c . II arrive quelques fois qu ? elles fe 

 fend ent dc haut en bas, ce qui fait un bruit horrible. Souvent la neige couvre telie^ 

 ^t^XT^^ir ^ de —-P--y tombed etperiilent.^ 



Part l n carri . 



