NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. 221 



CHAP. IX. 



Containing an account of the Norwegian nation. 



Sect. I. The ancient inhabitants of Norway, the Celto-Scythians were driven 

 out by, or incorporated with Afers, or Afiatics. Sect. II. Their mixing in 

 later times with various European nations ; their expeditions to other countries, 

 even to America, before it was difcovered by the Spaniards. Sect. III. Va- 

 rious firange colonies come in, and are received in Norway. Sect. IV. The 

 ftature,ftrength, and complexion of the Norwegians. Sect.V. Their genius, 

 and expertnefs in various kinds of work, arts, and bodily exercifesi 

 Sect. VI. Their capacity for literature and improvements of the mind. 

 Sect. VII. The qualities of their mind, their complaifance, fidelity, and va- 

 lour, which makes them quarrelfome of late years-, their ambition and 

 hofpitality to fir angers. Sect. VIII. Great age that many of them live to. 

 Sect. IX. Certain difeafes to which they arefubjecJ. 



SECT. I. 



AS I have hitherto endeavoured to defcribe the natural ftate Firft inhabi- 

 of Norway, the climate, the animals, as quadrupedes, way wer e ° r * 

 birds and fifties, which are peculiar to it, I fhould now be glad Sansf cy " 

 to lay down my pen, having in a manner fulfilled my promife ; 

 nor is it convenient, in my prefent circumftances, to proceed any 

 further ; for it was my intention at the beginning to flop here. 

 I did not think it necefTary, in a natural hiftory, to treat of the 

 inhabitants of Norway, their genius, cuftoms, &c. but as thefe 

 particulars may not be faid to exceed the bounds of a natural hif- 

 tory, and fome readers may be of opinion, that an hiftorian who 

 would give himfelf the trouble to defcribe inanimate and irra- 

 tional beings, in any particular country, ought not entirely to 

 omit the nobleft works of God ; I mean the rational inhabitants of 

 it, their qualities, nature, genius, manners, &c. I fhall therefore 

 give a fhort fketch of thefe, and leave it for others to enlarge on 

 the fubject, and eorre& the faults I may commit. However, I 

 hope I fhall be the more impartial, as I am not a native of Nor- 

 way myfelf. 



The origin of the Norwegian nation is a fubje& that I did not 

 purpofe to treat of, I fhall extraft what I have to fay on this fub- 

 je& from Snoro, Sturleren, Thormodus, Torfeus, and Jonas 

 Ramus, who give as full an account as can be expeded in a 



Pakt H - L 1-1 matter 



