NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. 



Where it happens that there are not people enough to hold the 

 large rope, then the bird-man fixes a poft in the ground, and 

 fattens his rope to it, and fo Aides down, without any help, to 

 work in the aforefaid manner. Some rocks are fo formed, that 

 one may go down into them from the fields ; then they take a 

 companion with them, and go in after the former manner, fearch-^ 

 ing about in the holes, and take each as many as their belt will 

 hold about their waift, or as they can carry in a bundle on their 

 backs 5 and fo they carry them home. There are alfo in feme 

 places vaft fteep cliffs, lying under the land, and yet more than 

 ioo fathom above the water, which are alfo very difficult to get 

 at. Down thefe cliffs they help one another in the manner afore- 

 faid, and they take a ftrong rope with them, which they faften 

 here and there in the cliff, where they can, and leave it all the 

 Summer : upon this they will run up and down, and take the 

 Birds at their pleafure. It is not to be defcribed how frightful 

 and dangerous this bird catching appears to the beholders, parti- 

 cularly to confider the vaft height, and how exceffive fteep thefe 

 rocks are ; and many projecting over the fea. It appears impof- 

 fible for any human creature to get into the holes of them, and 

 yet more impoflibleto climb up them • and yet thefe adventurous 

 people fcale them. They go feme times where they can but juft 

 pitch the end of their toes, or lay hold with their fingers * yet 

 this does not frighten them, though there is ioo fathom down, 

 or more, to the fea under them. This muft be dear earned bread 

 for thefe poor people ; for which they fo imminently hazard their 

 lives, and many, after long praaice, ftill fall a facrifice them- 

 felves. 



When thefe Birds are brought home they eat part of them 

 frefh, and part (if they get large quantities) is hung up to dry 

 for the Winter feafon. The feathers they collet together, and 

 make merchandize of them, to great advantage ; and the inha- 

 bitants get them in fuch quantities as God pleafes to give his 

 bleffing to, and feafonable weather for it. The Birds do not 

 come every where in this country, but on thofe iflands that are in 

 towards the ocean, and have high rocks or cliffs ; as at Norder- 

 Oerne, Myggenas, Yaagoe, Skuoe, Dimerne, and Suderoe: and 

 in dark weather they generally get moft, for then the Birds ftay 

 in the rocks ; in fine, clear, and 'hot fun-fhiny days, they are 

 rnoftly out at fea ; and toward the time of their going away 

 they keep towards the fea, and fit on the cliffs by the fea-fide • 

 and then the people go in boats, and catch them with their poles 

 and nets. So far Hr. L. Debes. 



After 



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