232 THE NATUEALIST IN NOEWAY. 



kicked over a piece of the glittering ore, as it lay on 

 the ground, and, pleased with the brilliant stone, he 

 carried it home with him, when some scientific person 

 discovered its worth. The mines were worked for 

 many years at a loss; but about 1768 they yielded a 

 handsome profit. Sometimes they have been worked 

 on public, and sometimes on private account. In 

 1833, the mines were worked by the State, at a profit 

 of 80,000 ; a large sum for a poor country like Nor- 

 way. They are now carried on under the control of 

 three directors, who employ about 400 hands. It is 

 said that the ore is purer than that of any other 

 country in Europe. 



Cobalt has been found near Drammen ; and nickel 

 near Espedalen. 



Gold is said to have been found near Eidsvold, but 

 not in any quantity. 



