NATURAL HISTORY of N RWAY. 271 



have a flock of good flrong ale in the houfe, as alfo againft 

 chriflenings and entertainments. On other occasions they regale 

 themfelves with very indifferent fmall beer, which they call mun- 

 gat. But their common drink in fummer is milk and water, and 

 in the winter, water and four whey, called fyre ; This the peafants 

 wives in the fummer boil, and lay up for the winter *. 



Qua virtus et quanta boni fi vivere parvo 

 Difcite — Hor. 



Here mull alfo be obferved, that as cold climates do not admit 

 of fo much tranfpiration as warmer countries, but keeps the heat 

 in the flomach by clofing up the pores, it confequently gives the 

 Norvegians a much greater appetite, and a ftronger digeftive fa- 

 culty than common. Our merchants are very fenfible of the 

 difference caufed by change of climate with regard to the appe- 

 tite ; for in March, when they fit out tbeir fhips for the Green- 

 land and Spitfberg voyages, the people require twice as large a 

 flock of provifions as will ferve the fame number of men in June 

 or Augufl, to go to Spain, or up the Straits. 



What the Norwegian peafants, feamen, and fifhermen (next to 

 brandy, which they are all extremely fond of) admire moft, is to- 

 bacco. This weed they not only fmoak but alfo chew, which 

 they think is as wholfom, and as well-tafled as the Indians do 

 their Betel-areck. The fmoaking tobacco was firft introduced 

 into' Norway in the year 161 6, and then a foot of roll-tobacco 

 was fold for eighteen-pence. If it could be planted here, and 

 brought to perfection (for our fummers are warm enough, but 

 perhaps of too fhort a continuance) it would be a great advantage 

 to the country, and would fave the nation feveral hundred thou- 

 fand dollars, that are annually paid for that commodity. How- 

 ever, we ought not to grudge it the feamen and the mountaineers, 

 to whom it is a great refrefhment in cold winds and fevere frofls. 

 Snuff, which they call here Naefe-meel, they are not lefs fond of, 

 and always carry their fnuff-horn about them. His excellence the 

 Stadtholder Gyldenlove, knew their tafle fo well in this partU 

 cular, that in his invaflon on Viig-Sidero, he diftributed a certain 



* This Syre, becomes at laft as four as vinegar, and is often ufed for that pur- 

 pofe •, but when they drink it they generally mix a good deal of water with it. 



quantity 



