NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. 29 



nier ; and in Ethiopia, according to Ludolph and others, the tops 

 of the mountains, as here in Norway, are covered with mow both 

 in winter and mmmer. In fome places far north the undermoff. 

 lays of fnows, by long lying, turn to a bluifh ice, called in our 

 language, Jifbrede, which fometimes Aides down to a confiderable 

 diftance over the lower grounds, to the no fmall detriment of the 

 peafants. In Juftedale, which lies high among the mountains, 

 one of thefe Jifbredes, detached from an ice-mountain, deftroyed 

 fome farm-houfes and lands, and further damage is yet to be ap- 

 prehended * k 



However, both here, and in other parts, especially in the 

 eaftern, the fnow is highly beneficial to the peafants, partly in 

 forming a paffable road in the winter, without which all traffic 

 and intercourfe with the champaign country would be cut off; 

 yet here they are often obliged to put on their Truviers f ( a kind 

 of fnow-fhoes, broad and round, made of withies, for keeping the 

 feet from finking in the fnow) and fometimes they muft even be 

 put on the horfe's hoofs. Another contrivance for travelling on 

 the fnow are ikies, or long and thin pieces of board, and fo 

 fmooth, that with them the peafants wade through the fnow with 

 all the expedition of fhips under full fail. In war time a corps of 

 4 or 600 of thefe fkie-men are very ferviceable as light troops, 

 for reconnoitring, procuring intelligence, or for any fudden en- 

 terprize ; no place being inacceflible to them, and they being 

 always fure of coming upon the enemy by furprize. The fnow 

 alfo improves the fertility of the foil, and is fuppofed in fpring, 

 to anfwer the ends of manuring ; it likewife ferves for a fence 

 and fhelter againft fevere colds and winds. When the fnow is 

 not off the ground early enough in the fpring, for the hufband- 

 men to begin the work of that feafon, they fpread over the fnow 

 a kind of rich black mould, which, in a few hours, entirely dif- 

 folves it. But, on the other hand, the peafants are often fufferers 

 by the fnow, which, when it falls in great quantities, and lies 



* Nix jacet et jactam nee fol pluviseq; refolvunt. 



Indurat Boreas perpetuamqi facit. Ovid. 



t Some entertaining accounts of thefe Truviers, or fnow-fhoes, which in other 

 parts are alfo called Rackets, are to be feen in Hennepin, Tom. n. cap. 27. and in 

 the feveral hiflories of the countries and nations of America. 



Ion 



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