2oo NATURAL HISTORY of NO RWAT, 



oil, it becomes pure iron. It is certain, however, that iron is not 

 univerfally of equal goodnefs, or equally maleable, and on ac- 

 count of its extreme hardnefs requires an immenfe quantity of 

 wood, and tho' not inferior in real value cannot be attended at fo 

 low a price as in Sweden: the lower clafs of people there are 

 under a neceffity of working for fmall wages, and a poor peafant, 

 often undertakes a little foundery of his own, being fure of a 

 quick vent; whereas in Norway, all the iron-ore in general is 

 wrought at a great expence, and the feveral branches of it require 

 a very opulent proprietor, or even a fociety of proprietors. Out 

 of the moor-iron, which is found in large lumps among the mo- 

 rafTes, the peafant himfelf makes his domeftic tools and utenfils *. 

 However next to the timber, iron is one of the moft profitable 

 produ&s of Norway, feveral hundred thoufand quintals being an- 

 nually exported, partly, and chiefly in bars, partly in carl: iron, as 

 ftoves, cannon, pots, kettles, and the like; the national profit of 

 which is eftimated at three or four hundred thoufand rixdollars: 

 Thefe iron works are the following. 



SECT. XIII. 



Bareboe, likewife called Baafelands-works, lies two Norway- 

 miles from Arendal ; this is one of the oldeft, and flill in a good 

 condition. 



Barums-work, like the former, and clofe to it. Its ore is by 

 in Regn. Mr. Swedenborg accounted the beft in Norway. 

 p ub i6 r 9 . Bolvig's-work, not far from fkeen. 



Dikkemarks-work near that of Barum, is at prefent difconti- 

 nued. 



Edfvolds-work in Over-rommerige, its founderies and machines 

 are to be feen in the above-mentioned place, of Mr. Swedenborg's 

 work, page 165. 



Egelands-work in the parifh of Gierfladt, is but a little under- 

 taking. 



Eidsfos-work in the county of Jarlfberg. 



Foflam-work near fkeen, is one of the beft, and famous for the 

 • great number of cannon caft there. 



* In the pariih of Vinia in Waas, is a kind of moor-iron, as hard as fteel, of which 

 the peafants make excellent axes, fcythes, knives, and the like, 



Hack- 



Lift of the 

 iron-works. 



