VOYAGE TO SPITZBEJRGEN. 35 



The grain is cut down in the usual way, and 

 when fit, is carried home either on the shoulders of 

 the women, or on horseback. 



There are not more than two or three carts 

 in these islands, and these are only kept by gentle- 

 men by way of novelty. Neither are there any 

 roads, public or private, except the footpaths made 

 over the hills by the horses, cattle, and sheep. 



The landlords build the farm houses at their 

 own expense. They are generally mean, low huts, 

 into which a person must enter in a bending pos- 

 ture ; and if he have not a guide (unless he be ac- 

 quainted with the windings of the fabric,) he will 

 scarcely find the apartment occupied by the family, 

 they and their cattle being, for the most part, in- 

 habitants of the same building*. They have the 

 fire in the middle of the house. The beds are 

 commonly like those of ships, with sliding doors. 

 A table, a pot, and some stools, are the principal 

 furniture to be seen. 



Whether there were any chests, presses, cup- 

 boards, &c. in any of the huts which I visited, the 

 continual smoke would not admit being ascertained. 

 It is evident, however, that they are exempt from 



• «. 



-Tgnemque Laremque 



Et pecus et dominos communi clauderet umbra."— Juvenal. 



c 6 



