ABSTRACT
THE passage of this man and his horse, as though they were walking on soldiers’ shields, is to be understood as follows: on the frontier of the northern kingdoms of Sweden and Norway there are lofty mountains called Dovrefjell 1 and others like them, which in wintertime are covered in such dense, deep snow that it is quite impossible for travellers to find a firm route over them in the usual way. Yet, to overcome a difficulty of this sort by their ingenuity and skilfully lighten their loads, the traders of those parts fasten to their own and their horses’ feet wickerwork shoes, or light, broad half-circles of cork or lime bark and, even though they are weighed down with a heavy burden, tread the ridges of snow without fear of sinking. 2 On a day’s journey they only complete two mountain miles, the equivalent of twelve Italian, 3 because of the shortness of the days, but at night, when the moon gives a brilliant light, they travel two or three times as far. Nor is this a disadvantage since, by the reflection from the white surface, the shimmering brightness illuminates the elevated and sloping snowfields, so that they may pick out from far off the mountain precipices and harmful beasts that have to be avoided. 4 Among these the most deadly are mountain wolves which, when it is bitterly cold, especially in the month of January, mass together in a great pack, as I shall relate below when I write of the danger from wolves. 5 The goods which are carried with such resourcefulness and toil are salt, bars of iron, linen and woollen cloth, in some places silver and copper ore, and valuable pelts. 6
Dovrefjell
Baskets, wickerwork, or half-circles under the feet
By the light of the moon they shun dangers
Wolves most deadly
Goods and merchandise
