Thé Selboe"
copper-mine.
Tom. m .
L. XIX. X. 2.
S’E C T . IX.
TfeeSelfeöe copper-Work lies fix Noïwaynmiles éaftward from
Ditantheiffi^-%nèf was difcovered in «the* year 1712. The 'óre at
firft had a-- greater mixture of ftome and fulphur than Yt prefent,
for it is fiö# arrived to greater:purity. -It is carried,: the diftance
o f three tNdrway miles,- to Mollènaa, where three foundaries are
ereéfed. £ lieven fhip-potinds and a half’ o f pure copper are is extracted
Horn a hundred-tun o f ore. Which*-of thjéiheförê-rqen-
tioned cöpper-works, the curioos^M. de- la Martimire: took a view
óf, I know nótj; and mqch lefs with, what truth he could mention
a fiiver-mine within two Norway milès of it j -this indeed, throws
a fufpicion Upon his whoIe ’narrative.' :' Howèyéf,tT fhaHTherd'in-
fert it ! from Happel’s tranflation in Mundo mirabdii • t
Upon tour arrival at Dreaithêim, we waitedfeift'-thesluperin-
tendant-general of thedhiafes^ tb dèliver’hiih ’öUrtótbrs} anffide»-
fired. that Our corn might be unloaded with all convenient dif-
patch; but his kdWèr wak~ thatbdl his inferioteofficers": bpiégrat
the' mines he rnnft fend a toeffenger thither, Teforeptejbufinefs
Could be tranfa&ed. Upon this I defired #our captain’s leaveltó
go. along with the mdfenger, which bemg Readily ;^ant^%üfe-^:'t
out early the next morning fit horfeback,; ands'cknierito ^Steckby,
a large town fix Norway miles from Tfrontheimy • whpreniwe
thought it adviiable to fpend that night,- whicH'was'Gomihg on
fo early"as about three o’clock, for we were- toupafe through a
laige wood, infefted by wolves, bbars, and liifices, Mffich. .being
very ravenous, made it more dangerous to.- travel^.i®« ;the?d^rk.
We" were mounted by break to
the mine, and about dulk reached the ftnifiderjes,- where* according
to the cuftom of the countiy, we were liberally entertained
with great plenty of beer, brandy, and tpbjaecq. It: was .my good
fortune here to meet with an officer, who having attended' a; Norway
nobleman in his travels,; fpoke very good French. I told
Viinrij thxt a curiofity of feeing the mines had brought me thither,
and that I fhould take it very kindly, j f he would be pleafed to
affift me in it, which he pronrifed I might depend on the very
next day, and after cementing our acquaintance with a hearty
carouzal, we betook ourfelves to bed. The meffenger who left
me andvreturned: tq I^@^h9im,.,hav.^g;;reppm^^ed; rue,tp jSBg'
of thg . mipe ejs,;.iji^o the next day, propofed tp' carry me with
to my gqW; aqquaintance j vvjiq h^d prepared a good breakfaft both
for bimfelf.and; yflgpnq (toing pqr
repaft,, Apcqrdingly
werleft tlierfpundpity, .which lHacjls inpon a high mountain,
near thp eqpancepftfie,piiner,works, arnl^on tHestqp of whip!}.
(s a crane, yyprked ijy ;two^en?^^^^ijg- a wheel. Thefe.draw up
frpm the, mine )afge.mdtes, fcmetimes of pr^„fometimeg of earth,.
officer and I having,feated ccurfejjv^in a|wqpdenjveffelj ccunpadcd
with iron and cords, were let down Into (ffie-ffia|fi to the depth, of
fifty,faffioms.Upon reaching,; ffiq* bottom, .not forbear
imagining myfelf in a of hell,
dark, caverns, large fires,, ag$f the workmen lopkir^ r like - devils,
all.ip
Upwards to .fatten %qver(Uthe nofe to , k^p (the Trnoak^ ,yvith
aprons of the fame. The work in* thefe mines is various,' feme
breaking the ore, others bufy with their inftruments in feeking for
copper-veins, pr water^cqpffes, which .fcmefim^ , fi^l<|ep!y brpak
.©utj as not long fince y^as the cafe,, and, with fq, muc^yjol^^ ■
that without, the .greatett y&ivity in , flopping it, the whole mine
had been under water. Thp; officer who had. accompanied:'mer.iu
this defeent, obferving me to be feized with fhivering, rung a bell
as .a figh^f to draw us up again, which was done in as fhort time
■ as-'we had been let down. * We then- returned to the foundery,
where, my generous interpreter.had provided a good; dinner ready
for us, and after a cheerful meal,- he, the officer, and myfelf, fet
put. pn horfeback to take a v,kw ° f the filver-mine .wpyks,. a}; two
miles-, diftance from thence.. Upon our arrival there, we went up
to the chief overfeeds houfe, who very jovially bid us welcome
in a glafs of brandy, which ,he afterwards filled round, and this
was Succeeded by,tobacco, and beer in plenty. .After this regale
he conducted us . .to the foundery, which was'about a quarter p£ a
mile from his houfe, and; nearly of the fame eonft-ru&jpn as a
copper-foundery. Here the workmen were all'bufy in various
; employ