FROM DRONTHEIM TO THE NORTH CAPE. 



123 



STEAMING ALOJJG THE COAST. 



between them. Thus every family, reduced to its own resources, forms as it were 

 a small commonwealth, which has but little to do with the external world, and 

 is obliged to rely for its happiness on internal harmony, and a moderate com- 

 petency. Strangers seldom invade their solitude, for they are far from the or- 

 dinary tracks of the tourist, and yet a journey from Drontheim to Hammerfest 

 and the North Cape affords many objects of interest well worthy of a visit. 

 The only mode of communication is by sea, for the land is everywhere inter- 

 sected by deep fjords, bounded by one continuous chain of precipitous cliffs and 

 rocks, varying from one thousand to four thousand feet in height. Formerly, 

 even the sea-voyage was attended with considerable difficulties, for the misera- 

 ble " yoegt," or Scandinavian sloop, the only means of conveyance at the dis- 

 posal of the traveller, required at the best of times at least a month to perform 

 the voyage from Drontheim to Hammerfest, and in case of stormy weather, or 

 contrary wind, had often to wait for weeks in some intermediate port. Now, 

 however, a steamer leaves the port of Drontheim every week, and conveys the 

 traveller in five or six days to the remote northern terminus of his journey. 



Innumerable isles of every size, from a few yards in diameter to as many 

 miles, stud the line of coast, and between these and the mainland the steamer 

 ploughs its way. Sometimes the channel is as narrow as the bed of a river, at 

 others it expands into a mighty lake, and the ever- varying forms of the isles, of 

 the fjords, and of the mountains, constantly open new and magnificent prospects 

 to the view. One grand colossal picture follows upon another, but unfortu- 

 nately few or none show the presence of man. From time to time only some 

 fishing-boat makes its appearance on the sea, or some wooden farm-house rises 



