RECRUITING IN THE PROVOSTRY. 73 



district over against the fort forming the south shore 

 of the Kiel harbour - - appeared to me particularly 

 adapted for supplying this substitute. Accordingly, 

 accompanied by a small body of the guard. I went 

 with drum and flag first to Schonberg. the chief place 

 of the Provostry. called the elders of the village together, 

 arid represented to them that it was altogether essential 

 for their own safety that they should offer their grown- 

 up sons for the occupation of the fort. Then arose 

 a long and difficult negotiation with the farmers and 

 their wives, who placed themselves behind their lords 

 and took a leading part in the conversation. 



The people were of opinion that if "the gentle- 

 men", viz. the government, considered it necessary 

 that their sons should march, they could give orders 

 to that effect: then one would know what one had 

 to do. If the Danes actually invaded their land, the 

 Provostry. then they would certainly defend it. even 

 without orders, but "in det Butenland up de annere 

 Sid det Waters", in the outland on the other side of 

 the water, they would not voluntarily go. 



As the peasantry with loud approval of the 

 female chorus remained immovable I became angry. 

 I declared to them in the Low-German tongue, which 

 I had not forgotten since my boyhood, that they were 

 stupid asses and craven poltroons, and told them that 

 the women in Germany had more courage than the 

 men here. In proof thereof I read to them from a 

 newspaper the statement that a female company had 

 already been formed in Bavaria to protect the land 



