NORWAY. 



then we went on deck. In fact, it seemed as if tha 

 effect of dinner had been to fill each man with such 

 overflowing benignity and goodwill that he would hava 

 smiled and bowed to a bedpost had it come in his way, 

 *nd I am certain that the obliging waiters came in for a 

 large share of these civilities, and repaid the company in 



kind. 



As each guest passed out, he or she said to the captain, 

 "tak for mad." This is a "manner and custom,*' 

 throughout all Norway, and means thanks for meat. The 

 expression is usually accompanied with a shake of the 

 host's hand, but that part of the ceremony was not per- 

 formed upon this occasion, probably because the captain 

 was not a bona fide host, seeing that we had paid for onr 

 dinner. With the exception of these three words at the 

 end, and "ver so goot" at the beginning, not a single 

 syllable was uttered by any one during the whole course 

 of that meal. 



When the deck was gained the gentlemen immediately 

 took to smoking. As a matter of course, Norwegians 

 smoke, and they entertain enlarged ideas on that subject, 

 if one may judge from the immense size of their meer- 

 schaums, and the large fat tobacco-pouch that is worn by 

 every man, strapped across his shoulders. 



There was a youth in this steamer a beardless youth 

 whose first thought in the morning, and whose last 

 glimmer of an idea at night, was his pipe, the bowl ol 

 which was as large as his own fist. 



I remember watching him with deep interest. He wai 



