2 TEN YEAES IN SWEDEN. 



no very hearty good will. Still I do not think that there 

 is any likelihood, at present at least, of any serious break 

 out between them. Upon my asking an old Swedish friend 

 in a general way his opinion of the Norwegians, I received 

 the following laconic reply : ' ' There are two things they 

 can do very well, deal in horses, and pack herrings " and, 

 doubtless, the Norwegians have much about the same 

 exalted opinion of the Swedes. Of Norway, however, I 

 know little or nothing. Sweden was my home during my 

 residence in the north, and it is of Sweden and the Swedes 

 alone that I shall speak. 



The general features of the two countries (save that 

 Norway is far less fertile, and more mountainous) and the 

 habits of the people are much alike. One language will pass 

 current in both, although there is a considerable difference 

 in the pronunciation. The scenery of Norway is much 

 grander, and the salmon rivers in that country are de- 

 cidedly better than any we have in Sweden, at least they 

 are far better known to the British fishermen, although 

 for trout fishing I fancy one country is about as good as 

 the other. As for shooting both countries are much alike. 

 The same game abounds in both, and if a man is camped 

 near the great dividing fell range between the two countries 

 I don't believe it matters a pin on which side he were sta- 

 tioned. Of course knowing Sweden, I should prefer the 

 Swedish side, and I may here remark that everything is 

 much dearer (nearly 100 per cent.) in Norway than in 

 Sweden. The people, as far as I could see, are prouder, 

 and I do not believe the peasants are so accommodating 

 (certainly more grasping) than in Sweden. 



The total area of Sweden itself is 3868 Swedish square 

 miles (or 8046 geographical), with a relative population of 

 about 1000 inhabitants on each square Swedish mile. 

 Norway has an area of 2761 Swedish square miles, with a 

 population of about 550 on each square mile. 



The only foreign possession belonging to Sweden is the 

 little island of Saint Bartholomew in the West Indies, with 

 about 3000 inhabitants. 



