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THE LIVING RACES OF MANKIND 



and under the same sovereign as the Swedes, 

 the Norwegians are in many ways different. 

 The population of Norway was 2,135,500 in 

 1897. The best authorities no longer hold 

 the view that the whole of the Scandinavian 

 Peninsula once belonged to the Lapps, who 

 were driven north by the Scandinavians. 



The Norwegians are not of exceptional 

 height, but are thickly and strongly built. 

 The bonde, or farmer, who may be taken as 

 fairly representing the Norse character, is 

 manly, self-possessed, and brave. Beneath 

 his rough exterior he has a kindly heart. 

 Outwardly cold, he is easily moved to anger 

 or affection. He is kind to his family and 

 considerate to his beast. Being industrious 

 and resourceful, he is clever at all kinds 

 of handicrafts. When building his house, 

 he fells his own trees in the forest, and is 

 his own carpenter. As occasion requires, he 

 can turn tanner, harness-maker, blacksmith, 

 shoemaker, or miller. Along the coast the 

 Norwegian can build boats, and is an expert 

 fisherman. In the mountains he hunts the 

 bear, wild reindeer, and brings down the 

 ptarmigan. 



Like other nations in Northern Europe, 

 the Norwegians imitate the styles of London 

 iind Paris in their dress. But fashions do 

 not change so rapidly as in warmer climates, 

 and a style which once becomes popular 

 may last for generations. 



For the men the characteristic dress is 

 a short round jacket, much like that known 

 to us as the "monkey-jacket," buttoned 

 below the neck only. It is ornamented 

 with two rows of metal buttons, which, in 

 the case of well-to-do peasants, are often 

 made of silver. The material of the jacket 

 is thick homespun cloth. They have waistcoats to match, with smaller buttons, and knee- 

 breeches, at one time invariably of leather, but now of homespun cloth. Their legs are 

 covered with coarse woollen stockings, and the shoes are generally ornamented with buckles. 

 The head-dress is usually a round skin cap; but in some parts of the interior they wear tall, 

 cylindrical felt hats, strikingly like those till recently worn by Welsh women. 



The full costume of the women is distinctly national and picturesque, though it is now 

 rarely seen except at fancy-dress balls and on similar occasions. It consists of a dark skirt 

 of green or blue, and a bodice of scarlet, edged with ribbons or gold lace, over a muslin shirt, 

 with full sleeves, and much pleated in front. The married women have caps of exquisite 

 white muslin, but the unmarried go bare-headed. Round neck and waist are worn specimens 

 of fine, old filigree silver-work, heirlooms which have often been in the possession of the same 

 family for many generations. 



Du Chaillu gives an interesting description of the peculiar dress worn by the people of 



Photo by Photochroine Co.} 



A HARDANGER GIRL. 



\_London. 



