107
rlil
had once been inclosed with mud-walls, but was
noAV open in many parts, the whole appearing
to be much neglected; and the contrast between
this burying-ground and those one generally meets
Avith in Norway Avas indeed v'ery striking; not a
stone nor a block of wood being anyAvhere raised to
the memory of the departed— all being reduced to
the level of a simple molecule of turf, under Avhich
they Avere left to sleep in total oblivion. It may be
said of the tenant of this common burying-ground,
that at least he here
' Lie s in peace with all his humble race,
Aud has no stone to mark h is burial-place.”
Near to this piece of ground is a small lake,
from Avhich a rivulet runs across the beach into
the bay, and at the mouth of which some have
imagined that a facility is afforded for forming a
little harbour to admit the fishing-boats, Avhich
Avould certainly be a great accommodation and
benefit to the poor fishermen. To each of the merchants’
houses, and to those of the governor, the
bishop, and landfogued, is attached a small piece
of ground laid out as a garden, mostly if not entirely
for the purpose of raising a few culinary
vegetables; and few indeed they Avere, as far
as my observation Avent, and of a very sickly and
languishing appearance. The produce consisted
generally of cabbages, just forming into heads,
turnips (I believe Swedish), parsley, and potatoes,
/ ;
about the size of crab-apples. The present Avas considered
to be an unfavourable season, but still better
than some others, Avhen all attempts had failed to
raise vegetables of any kind; but in the v'erybest of
seasons they never arrive at any degree of perfection.
Radishes, and turnip-radishes, mustard and
cress, seemed to thrive the best, and Avere looking
pretty well in the governor’s garden; but he
bestoAved much care and labour on his little
piece of ground, and often took great pleasure
in pointing out to me the healthy state and
vigour of three or four plants of the mountain
ash, which (after I forget how many years’ groAvth)
had attained to the height of about four feet, and in
the possession of Avhich he prided himself not a
little, assuring me that they were the largest, and
in fact the only plants that deserved the name of
trees within the distance of many miles around
Reikiavik.
The gardens I am speaking of had apparently
abundance of good soil, and Avere all in a sheltered
situation, facing the south-west; and yet, one knows
not why under such favourable circumstances,
everything in them appeared to be languishing.
It was the same in all the more inland situations
Avhere anything like a garden Avas observed; the
most common vegetables were of no use, nor
indeed did they appear to be deemed worthy of
any attention, groAving generally among the Aveeds iii