VOYAGE TO SPITZBEHGEN. 25 



Their sheep (the most profitable part of their 

 live stock, and which are calculated to be from 

 110,000 to 120,000 in number,) are likewise of 

 very small growth. One between three and five 

 years old, sells from four to seven shillings. 



In winter, especially when the ground is covered 

 with snow, these animals feed on the sea-weed, with 

 which the shores are covered. This they resort to 

 by a kind of natural instinct ; for as soon as the 

 tide begins to ebb, the whole body of them (al- 

 though feeding several miles off) make for the sea- 

 shores, where they stay as long as the tide will per- 

 mit them, and then return to their usual walks. 



The wool of these sheep is remarkably soft and 

 fine; but there is so much diversity in its quality, 

 that some stockings at L.2, 2s. per pair, and others 

 at sixpence, are made from it. The common price 

 of tolerable good stockings is from five shillings to 

 half-a-guinea per pair. They are all knitted. The 

 very fine ones, which are esteemed superior in value 

 to silk, will pass through a small finger ring. The 

 different colours of the wool are white, black, light 

 grey, and sometimes a russet. The sheep are 

 never shorn ; but early in June the wool is pulled 

 off without injuring the animal. In this process 

 care is taken to leave the long hairs which grow 



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