Produce o f '
the country.
Mechanic
trades.
Tfonhiem Chriftiania, artd*BrâgüæS, âre the moftconfiderâblë
trading cities of this kingdfâm, next to Bergen, whofe-trade is very
confiderabfe to all parts of Europe, and brings in annually îpore
thari rixdollare duty on a moderate Qalcniaûop. The
commodities or produce of thç mpjjtnr, ®tpo$ed from
Norway, #e cdpger, Both wrought and uhwrooght^ - Iroh cafl:; into
cannon, itoves, and pots, or forged into bars* -lead, though but
in finall quantities, piafts, tijnbe^, deal-hoacd^’ pfefi|£*3 marble,
Veeg-Jtfeie^ milt-ftonss, lcyl-ifqne^ i Variety, pf fiih are ^jfb.ex-
ported, as. cod, herring, felmon, ling," flounders, ,ap.d lobflérs;
alio cow-hides, fea,-calf-lkins, goat-lkins, fonte dxeflèd into cxav
duan leather, various kinds of eparfe apd fine fur of'shears, loflèr,
vielfias, wolves, foxes, beavers, ermins, and martens > eider-down,
and other fathers; hotter, tallow, train-oil,- tar; juniper, and lèverai
other forts of berries, and nuts-; felt, sallum,} - glafs, Vitriol,
andpot-afhes +,
This nation has a genius for trade and-navigation," though, as
has been obferved before, .their dplendid manper of . living in fame
places is an obftnfetion to it We fend pur youths almond to
îtngllrti, French, and Dutch-merchants counting-houfes; laimv
prove themfelves, ahdTearn the languages.; as'fomqjy^ung. peoplf
come here from the feme parts fora.- yea; or two for that putpofe.
Mechanic trades are not in any great vogue in,Norway,beçaufe
the peafent, as I liave before obferved, manufeârùrea every thing
hjmfelf that he has occafion for, and dpcs no£ Wput the 'ai&ftaueç
ef any profeflèd mechanic». Fop,, this - reafop, ; ; Aere;.are bu t, tw-p ,
cities in the .heart of. the country, which are Konglberg, .and
Roraas: all the reft are fituated on thecoaft, becaufe they depend
entirely upon trade and commerce; only feme few feiethahics’ âre
daily employed in making neceflafy uteinfils. All fine and curious
works we çhoolè to import from England, or Holland, though
in thofe articles we begin to improve, and by degrees -find the
advantage of it, elpecially in joiners and cabinet-makers Work.
Agriculture is carry’d on by the farmers in all the provinces,
though not with equal diligence and advantage, according to the
difference of the foil, as has been Ihewn before, in the chapter of
the growth and produce'of this country. In the eaftçrn provinces,
f All the above-named products of Norway, efpecially fiih, metals, and timber,,
may, upon a well-grounded calculation, amount to three-million of rixdollars annually.
i partiparticularly
at Hcdeniark, and plfo . in the manor of Nardland*
thpr^are many farmers that.eveiy year felh|feveral tuns of com,
of their oWn gEOwApnat only», to their neighbours, but alfo export.
it to Swfcdens. But amAecontrary, .there are found many
momihat a$e obligy^ A «buy above half Aujeqrn they rafe, efpeci-
allyl opi ther weft |i4 #pf;NQr|v§y ;;.)there helis-Counted a good farmer
that can :fupply his||^vn. family with com./ This In a great mea-
fure proceedsif om fAhe peafante ;Wg%epce in many places, who
choofe to work imAe woods, :!or at their filheries, rather than employ‘
themfelves in cultivating theirdan^yhut nowtfeyAegiA
more- thansever, to iitprove/ waffe grounds^ Thefe peaceable
times oecafeon a great increafe ©£ people, and the ground belonging
to ..one houfe, is often dividedinte three, Tour, or five patts,
among as many femiliA; which brakes thefe-new inhabitants fee
the Peceflity qf being indnftrioiis in cultivating; .the gfotind hi
order to-fupport Afe/amilies.. . Hptyever, in ta d l places their
induftiy is not fo gp#t m it. might, and ought to be in draining
Ae into good pafhire, or
arable land, Which in ©Agr countries; has improved maiiy wafte
places, and rendered. them populous in a £hort time, according to
the words of the poet,
------ jSterilifp^. dju.palus aptaque remis,
alit et grave ifcntit aratrum.
; As for the reft, the Lord of nature has diftributed mrioiis difli-
roilar means of living among different nations, that one may have
peed of theioAer; umI that; ope.country may^fli^lfejof its ftiper-
fluities jo--another, and impbrt oAer? 'Amgs which it wants at
home. Thus if Norway was to produce a fofficient quantity fo
as not to want foreign corn, I do not know wh«ae Denmark
would difeofe pf its iuperfluity in. Aat commodity* Grazing,
and breediilg. cattle is t& chief part of the farmers employment;
•b^i;Which, he not: only Applies his own wants, but gets a txmfi^
•derable profit by fending to market Aeir flefh, flrirW and hides.
In Ac mountains the peafents make grazing almoft their only
^occupation, and, as has been obferved before, fend their cattle at
M great diftance to grafs, in .feeters, or fruitful fpots on tlie tops of
the mountains; or in Ae finall valleys,; and along the rivulets Aat
rurt .between the hills. They, generally fend good dogs wiA them;
.and.women fervants to look after the cows, to take care of Ae
Part 4 C hiilk,
Grazing;