444 GREAT CHASSE. 



lend a hand on these occasions, or rather only such as reside 

 at Fisk-Layen, or fishing-stations, along the coast ; in return 

 for which, and other public services, they enjoy certain im- 

 munities and privileges. These men must also be provided 

 with boats suitable for the purpose. If the distance from 

 their homes be inconsiderable, the duty must be performed 

 at their own expense ; but if called from a distance, they are 

 entitled to some little recompense from the Crown. 



The day and the place of rendezvous (frequently the 

 hamlet of Kampinge, situated about twenty miles to the 

 south of the town of Malmo) having been publicly notified 

 some time previously, the men assemble at the appointed 

 hour, usually about midnight; and when marshalled, they 

 are marched off to the place of embarkation, which is most 

 commonly near at hand. 



If the Governor .be present, he takes the command of the 

 hunt; but in his absence, the Kron-Fogde, or chief civil 

 authority of the district at least, of the people on shore; 

 for the management of those in the water is usually entrusted 

 to some one of the sportsmen present. 



Formerly, when the hunts were in their glory, more than 

 forty boats were present on these occasions, but at this time 

 only between twenty and thirty are mustered. Some of the 

 boats are pretty large, but in general they will not hold more 

 than six men namely, four to row, each man his oar, and 

 two, provided with guns, or other implements of capture or 

 destruction, one of whom is stationed in the bow, and the 

 other in the stern-sheets. 



When the men are embarked an operation not at all times 

 conducted with the needful silence and everything is duly 

 arranged, the flotilla proceeds at break of day to the scene 



