File:Van soe, near Mos (JW Edy plate 69).jpg

This view presents the scenery to the eastward in the immediate vicinity of Mos, where the water from Van-Söe, a considerable lake, is constructed within a narrow pass between the rocks, before it enters that town at the fall, situated immediately beyond the dark rock on the left. The timber procured on the banks of the Van passes here in vast quantities, loose and in rafts gliding down the gentle stream, to the Lentz a little way above the bridge; each piece being previously marked by its owner, is easily selected and drawn on shore, as may be seen under the bare rock, from whence it is conveyed over the rail-way to the mills below. At times this river is so choked up with it, as to present one mass of timber, instead of water. The barren rock in front appears to be entirely composed of a species of mill-stone, of a deep reddish brown colour, very hard and heavy, cemented together by a sparry matter, with glittering spangles, and angular grit. Its strata ramify in all directions; the surface is destitute of trees, and has scarcely any vegetation, except a few patches of moss. Two habitations, and a few huts only, are erected on it for shelter during storms. A rock on the right, composed of a laminated stone, with perpendicular fissures, is per petually showering down its fragments, to the great annoyance of all in its vicinity. One or two prams compose the whole fleet of this place. Men are continually perambulating the shores with long poles, to disentangle and propel the timber ; they frequently ferry themselves over on a single piece; in fact they appear perfectly amphibious, and may be seen crawling like cats, over or along the sides of the smooth rocks, where any other human being would shudder at an attempt to follow them. All up this narrow pass, for three or four miles, the rocks and trees on each side, present the most beautiful and romantic scenery imaginable, contracting in some places so as almost to meet each other with their tops across the little river beneath, in others rising perpendicularly above the clouds, with numerous wild-fowls visiting their sides. This was also a favourite place for swifts, swallows, and martins, and in the higher regions for eagles and hawks. A few eels appeared to be the only fishes in the river. On entering the lake, a vast expanse of water presents itself with low long islands, covered with trees, and a distant flat country, clothed in the same manner beyond it. If it were on a smaller scale, it would be called sylvan or Italian scenery, from its perfect serenity, and unity of parts. When we turn round and look back upon the mountainous and hilly vicinity of the east side of Mos, it appears to be another creation, both in form and colour. It is a pleasant walk from Mos to the top of a conical hill, a mile distant, on the apex of which is a mark, from whence the panoramic view is of amazing extent, including almost the whole country within a circle of forty miles diameter, a great portion of the Fiord, and all its islands, from near Drobak to the Fader, over Teion, with Holmstrand, Tonsberg, Jarlsberg, &c.; in the west Paradise-hill, near Dram ; in the north vast forests ; in the east Van-Söe; in the south the entire bay, with the town of Mos, its cascade, ships, iron-works, saw-mills, and isthmus of sand, near the bottom of the hill.