NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. 79 



ting on the rocks, which happens even in the calmeft weather : 

 when it is flood, the ftream runs up the country betwixt Lofoden 

 and Mofkoe, with a boifterous rapidity, but the roar of its impe- 

 tuous ebb to the fea, is fcarce equalled by the loudeft and moft 

 dreadful cataracts ; the noife being heard feveral leagues off, and 

 the vortices or pits are of fuch an extent and depth, that if a fhip 

 comes within its attraction, it is inevitably abforbed and carried 

 down to the bottom, and there beat to pieces againft the rocks; 

 and when the water relaxes, the fragments thereof are thrown up 

 again. But thefe intervals of tranquillity are only at the turn of 

 the ebb and flood, in calm weather, and laft but a quarter of an 

 hour, its violence gradually returning. When the ftream is moft. 

 boifterous, and its fury heightened by a ftorm, it is dangerous to 

 come within a Norway mile of it, boats, fhips, and yatchs having been 

 carried away, by not guarding againft it before they w T ere within 

 its reach. It likewife happens frequently, that whales come too 

 near the ftream, and are overpowered by its violence ; and then it is 

 impoilible to defcribe their howlings and bellowings in their fruit- 

 lefs ftruggles to difengage themfelves. A bear once attempting to 

 fwim from Lofoden to Mofkoe, with a defign of preying upon the 

 fheep at pafture in the ifland, afforded the like fpectacle to the 

 people ; the ftream caught him, and bore him down, whilft he 

 roared terribly, fo as to be heard on more. Large flocks of firs and 

 pine-trees, after being abforbed by the current, rife again, broken 

 and torn to fuch a degree, as if briftles grew on them. This plainly 

 mews the bottom to confift of craggy rocks, among which they are 

 whirled to and fro. This ftream is regulated by the flux and reflux 

 of the fea ; it being conftantly high and low water every fix hours. 

 In the year 1645, early in the morning of Sexagefima-Sunday, it 

 raged with fuch noife and impetuofity, that on the ifland of 

 Mofkoe, the very ftones of the houfes fell to the ground." So far 

 Mr. Ramus, whofe account perfectly agrees with thofe given me 

 by others, efpecially Mr. J. Althand of Ethne, who in his 

 younger years was chaplain there, and confequently had many 

 opportunities of obferving variety of circumftances. Mr. Peder Dafs, 

 who lives on the very fpot, will admit of no other caufe of this 

 natural prodigy ; and in contradiction to the opinion of the Danim 

 poet Arreboe, in his ftanzas on fubterraneous watery abyfTes, he 

 . Fart I. Y affirms 



