'gumøy' (q49639993)
no. Xxvii. Isle of gomöe. Is situated in a cluster of islands near krageröe, and serves as a place of retreat to an opulent inhabitant of that town, who has erected a small neat cottage here. The island, though of small extent, is very fertile and capable of maintaining a number of cows. Fruit-trees and flowers grew in a garden well sheltered from bleak winds by the adjacent rocky islands. One of these islands was burnt by the negligent manner in which the owner cleared away the woods. The method of clearing ground by fire is constantly practised in norway, the ashes being esteemed an excellent manure; but whether the practice is beneficial upon the whole, may perhaps admit of a question. The norwegians do not, it must be owned, husband the resources drawn from the forests with that care which ought to be exercised. In regard to the management of the forests, the interests of the sea-port towns seem to be chiefly consulted. Now, many other very important branches of public economy depend equally as much on the forests: but every thing in this country seems to yield to the mercantile part of the community. To the forests, the sea-port towns in the southern and eastern parts of norway are chiefly indebted for their prosperity and riches. The wood exported principally consists of fir and pine; it is highly esteemed in this country for a variety of purposes, which would find but an indifferent substitute in the timber of any other country. What the quantity of timber annually exported from norway may now be, it is perhaps impossible to state with any degree of precision. In times like these, no traveller would be able to obtain much satisfactory information concerning the resources of any nation in the slightest degree within the sphere of the continental system. Questions of a public nature could scarcely be uttered without subjecting the inquirer to imputations and surmises, to which no innocent traveller, however ardent his spirit of research might be, would choose to become obnoxious, though he might be put in possession of sundry "grandes pensées. " a traveller of the present day must, in fact, be content with what is offered him; and, with honest sancho panca, bid god bless the giver, nor look the gift horse in the mouth. Sure i am, at least, that such conduct would be peculiarly suitable, in endeavouring to obtain any information relative to norwegian balks, planks, laths, battens, uffers, oars, handspikes, rafters, etc. Happy might the inquirer esteem himself, if he did not find occasion to acknowledge the truth of the following language held by professor wilse: "we are in a great measure devoid of that readiness and frankness, which tend to facilitate the pursuits of authors in other countries. Many people among us, in general, become suspicious, especially if questioned relative to funds and sources of income. You may then read in their countenances such replies as the following: ‘what business is that of
yours? have you nothing else to do? why do you want to know? what do you get by it?’ "
this manner of treating strangers is peculiarly irksome and painful to englishmen, who, of all foreign nations, certainly enter norway with the most decided prepossessions in its favour. Date: 1800. Gomöe Isle (JW Edy plate 27)
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