Origin of the Word " Viking." 133 



We have also had, since the tenth or eleventh century, our 

 wood industries, and the exporting of wood is next to the fish- 

 eries. When the latter fail, we always have something to fall 

 back on. The wood export consists mostly of dressed goods, 

 wood-pulp, spars and poles, which are shipped all over Europe, 

 though the largest consumers are Great Britain and the English 

 colonies. Mining and quarrying are carried on, and in the last 

 fifty years important manufacturing districts have sprung up 

 where sufficient water power was found, and every year enter- 

 prising young men go out to foreign lands and on returning set 

 up fresh branches of industry. Another source of income is the 

 great number of tourists within the last few years who are 

 attracted by the beautiful scenery of the land of the midnight 

 sun. Hov/ever, this has demoralized poor farmers somewhat, 

 and we have always been proud of our farmers. 



The important place which shipping Norway occupies is 

 world renowned. The Norwegian merchant flag floats on every 

 sea, and each one of Norway's two million inhabitants repre- 

 sents one ton of shipping, placing us fourth in the ocean-carry- 

 ing trade. The bulk of our shipping is employed by foreign na- 

 tions, indicating that shippers have confidence in us as seamen. 



A glance at the map will show that it is not an agricultural 

 country, although the ruling class are farmers. Our rock-bound 

 country, with its long and rugged coast, has a wonderful attrac- 

 tion in the roaring North sea, and every boy, as soon as his arm 

 has attained sufficient muscular strength, goes off' to make his 

 living there. It is no wonder, then, that the Norwegians are found 

 in every part of the world, and that they have gained a reputa- 

 tion for being first-class sailors. 



The word " Viking " must undoubtedly have originated from 

 the word " vik," and indicated in olden times what is now 

 known by the term pirates. They were no doubt worthy of that 

 name, as they committed many an evil deed. By perusing the 

 Sagas it will be found that these men possessed many good 

 qualities, which make their characters a very interesting study. 

 They had a manly independence and a high sense of honor and 

 liberty, as well as courage and pluck. Their word was never 

 doubted and their promise never broken. They treated a weaker 

 enemy fairly, and toward women behaved like true gentlemen. 

 It is true that their expeditions gave them the name of plun- 

 derers and fearful warriors, who ruined everything before them, 



