NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY, 245 



The cold in Norway and Sweden by no means obftru&s the 

 growth of the body, which is obvious, by the compleat ftature 

 of the people of thofe nations ; but the Laplanders, Greenlanders, 

 and Samoiedes, are all a fhort, thick-fet race, of a. dark brown 

 complexion, which is certainly occafioned by the cold, that is 

 very intenfe in their climate. 



SECT. V. 



To reprefent the genius, or difpofitions of the minds of a^ aIi f s d of 

 whole nation, has its difficulties, and is liable to many exceptions. 

 However, nobody will deny (what daily experience fhews to be 

 true) that every nation is, in fome degree, chara&erifed and dif- 

 tinguifhed by its particular air, nourifhment, education, and 

 manner of living. 



Having premifed thus much, I mall enquire into the mental 

 qualities and genius of the Norwegians. They are generally 

 dextrous, briik, penetrating, and ingenious, efpecially in all ingenuity. 

 kinds of mechanic performances. This may be feen by the pea- 

 fants never employing any hatters, fhoemakers, taylors, tanners, 

 weavers, carpenters, fmiths, or joiners ; nor do they ever buy 

 any goods in the towns : but all thefe trades are exercifed in 

 every farm-houfe. They think a boy can never be an ufeful 

 member of fociety, nor a good man, without making himfelf 

 matter of all thefe. 



In fhort, the peafants of no country are fo dextrous at every 

 thing as thofe of Norway, and our good neighbours the Swedes ; 

 where they have much the fame method of educating their chil- 

 dren. But it is true, however, that thefe dabblers in fo many 

 trades feldom excel in any one branch; but it is fufficient that 

 they perform well enough for their purpofe * Many of thefe 

 polypragmatic peafants bring their work to fuch perfection, that 

 it is hardly diftinguifhable from town-made goods. At Hardan- 

 ger, not far from hence, there are feveral young country fellows 

 who make their own violins ; and fome of them are fo good, that 



* How ingenious a great many of thefe Norwegian peafants are in building of 

 {hips (which they do only by imitation, without any rules) may be concluded by the 

 numbers that are built at Arendal, and other places ■ fome of thefe are from two to 

 three hundred lafts burden, fit for the Afiatic trade, and that company has bought fome 

 of them for that purpofe. At the aforefaid Arendal there is frequently built four or 

 five of thofe large ihips in a year, and many fmaller veffels. 



Part II. Rrr I 



