4 NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. 



it leaves the horizon, fo that in the depth of winter it is invifible 

 for feme weeks *, and all the light perceived at noon is a faint 

 glimmering of about an hour and half's continuance, which, as 

 the fun never appears above the horizon, chiefly proceeds from 

 the reflection of the rays on the higheft mountains, the fummits 

 of which are feen more clearly than other objects. However, 

 this glimmering is not the only light with which the inhabitants 

 of thefe northern provinces are provided for their fimeries, and 

 other employments, in the open air. The wife and bountiful 

 creator hath afforded them all poffible affiftance, for thefe and 

 other purpofes. Befides the moon-fhine, which by refle&ion 

 from the mountains, is exceedingly bright in the valleys and 

 creeks, thefe northern people, as well as the peafants, and fifher- 

 men in the diocefe of Bergen, when their day-light is contracted 

 to fix hours, find confiderable relief from the north-light called 

 Aurora borealis; it often affording them all the light neceffary to 

 their ordinary labors, efpecially as it is now both here and elfe- 

 where more frequent and extenflve than formerly. 



SECT. III. 



The Aurora This light in the air f, which here, and in Sweden, is known 



the night. 



fea-iight in by the name of Vaerlios, Lyfnar, Lyfanigar, and Lottetfkien, is 

 elfewhere generally called the north-light, as ufually ifluing from 

 the north, and its appearance moftly known to the northern 

 people, although the real caufe of it be here, no lefs than in 

 other parts, a very dark problem, and involved in many uncer- 

 tainties. I fhall the lefs prefume to advance any thing as certain 

 and decifive on this head, fince counfellor Ramus, a native of 

 Norway, and a celebrated mathematician, hath not ventured to 



* Even in thefe provinces, where, I have already obferved the lhorteft day to con- 

 fift of fix hours, there are alfo fome few parts fo inclofed within the fheep mountains, 

 that for feveral months they cannot fee the fun's difk, though its beams are vifible to 

 them. As I pafTed in my vifitation through the ifland of Laerdahl, the m after of the 

 houfe where I lodged, allured me, that he, and his next neighbour, were bleffed with 

 the fun's appearance, not more than four months of the whole year, namely, from the 

 middle of April, to the middle of Auguft, yet others, at the diftance of but a quarter 

 of a mile, where the valley widens, could fee it as ufual. This muft be the condition 

 of fome of the inhabitants of the Alps, efpecially about Monte Cenis, which feparates 

 Savoy from Piedmont, where, in fome valleys, though the fun does not appear during 

 the whole winter, yet the inhabitants enjoy the neceffary day-light. 



-f* In England, and efpecially in the north parts, where the north light is alfo well 

 known, it is by reafon of its defultory motion, called Morrice-dancers, Merry dancers, 

 and ftreamers. 



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