292 ELFSBORGS CASTLE. 



In olden times Gothenburg was a cheap place of 

 residence, house rent being low, and the necessaries, not 

 to say luxuries of life, procurable on very moderate terms ; 

 but owing to the price of everything having of late years 

 doubled or even trebled, the reverse is now the case, and 

 a man wishing to economize will do well to pitch his tent 

 elsewhere. 



There are several objects deserving the traveller's 

 attention in the vicinity of Gothenburg; amongst which 

 may be enumerated Elfsborgs Castle, situated on an islet 

 of the Gotha, at some five or six miles below the town. 

 Formerly it was looked on as a place of strength, but :is 

 it is commanded by the hills on both sides of the river, 

 and as cannon now carry somewhat further than in days 

 of yore, it serves at present, I apprehend, little other 

 purpose than as a receptacle for a number of misdoers 

 who have been condemned to imprisonment for life. The 

 remains of the ancient fortress of Elfsborg, which in years 

 gone by was more than once a bone of contention between 

 the Swedes and Danes, are on the main land and not very 

 far distant from where the modern castle now stands. 



Still farther down the river, and also on a rocky 

 island, is Kanso, the well-known quarantine station for 

 the port of Gothenburg. The La/arelto and adjacent 

 buildings, which are well and substantially constructed, 

 stand at the very edge of the water, and there being in 

 the back-ground a few trees and hushes, a somewhat 

 unusual sight on this iron-bound and dreary-looking coast, 

 the place has quite a snug and pretty appearance;; and 

 supposing the di'ti'nn not to be too strictly confined to t In- 

 house, I can fancy that spending :i few days here would 

 not be attended witli an\ \er\ ^reat discomfort. 



Kear to the outlet of the river (Jot ha, moreover, and 

 likewise on a small rocky islet, stands \ViiiL, p a-l?cacon, the 

 light that has guided many a brave ship into the celebrated 



