66 NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. 



CHAP. III. 

 Of the WATERS. 



Sect. I. The fea-coajl, iflands, and harbours of Norway. Sect. II. Bottom of 

 the fea along the coajis. Sect. III. Bottomlefs depths even in the narrow 

 firearm and creeks which run up the country. Sect. IV. Weight of the fea- 

 water. _ Sect. V. Its colour. Sect. VI. Its faltnefs. Sect. VII. Its 

 fatfiefs. Sect. VIII. Its coruf cations, and brightnefs in the night. Sect. IX. Its 

 agitations by winds, ebb, and flood. Sect. X. The Mofkoe river inNordland, 

 is not what it appears to be at a diftance. Sect. XL Frejh-water, parti- 

 cularly fprings, in Norway. Sect. XII. Rivulets, currents, rivers, frefh- 

 water lakes, and floating ijlands in them. Sect. XIII. The great advantage 

 offuch waters for the conveyance and exportation of timber. Sect. XIV. Wa- 

 ter-falls, or Cat araBs, from the rocks into the rivers. Sect. XV. Bridges 

 over the rivers, and the wonderful confrudlion offome of them. Sect. XVI. Eafy 

 way of travelling in the winter over the frozen waters. 



SECT. I. 



The coafts, "Y N our furvey of the element of water, in and about Norway, 

 hadbours^f JL tne &&■ object which prefents itfelf to us is a part of the 

 orway ' north or large Atlantic fea, which follows the coafts of Norway 

 for three hundred leagues, and by many narrow channels forms 

 a multitude of fmall and large iflands, fome of them being from 

 three to fix or nine leagues in length, and not barren ; but moll 

 of them are fo fmall, that they are inhabited only by fome niher- 

 men and pilots, who keep a few heads of cattle, which they fend 

 out for pafture to the neareft little iflands, rocks, and Sheers. By 

 fuch a rampart, which pofTibly may conflft of a million or more 

 of ftone columns, founded in the bottom of the fea, the capitals 

 whereof fcarce rife higher than fome fathoms above the waves, al- 

 moft the whole weflern coaft of Norway is defended ; and thro' 

 the providence of the wife Creator, there are many advantages 

 which arife from them. Among thefe the firft is, fecurity againft 

 any naval power of an enemy, whofe fhips, without a pilot from 

 the country itfelf, would not dare to venture within the Sheers, 

 and then they are in danger from the leaf! ftorm, which here- 

 abouts gives no warning, infomuch, that in an inftant, unlefs they 

 have the good fortune of fecuring themfelves in a good harbour, 

 they may be daflied to pieces in the creeks, which are all inclofed 

 n i with 



