SARNEN  , the

capital of the western half (or Obwalden) of the Swiss canton of Unterwalden . It stands 1558 ft. above sea-level, at the north end of the lake of Sarnen (3 sq. m. in extent) and on the river Aa . Pop . (1900) 3949• It has a large parish church and two convents . In the archives is preserved the famous MS. known from the colour of its binding as the White Book of Sarnen, which contains one of the earliest known versions of the Tell legend (see TELL) . Sarnen is a station on the Briinig Railway, being 42 M. from Alpnachstad, its port on the lake of Lucerne . (W . A . B .