No. Xxxi. Brekke. Encompassed by rocks and woods is situated in a fertile valley, watered by a small clear stream, which is navigable for boats only. Being placed in a delightful sporting country, at a little distance from the town of longsound, brekke forms a favourite resort to parties of pleasure. The inn, in point of accommodation, far surpasses norwegian inns in general, and is distinguished as combining the recommendations of great civility, good cheer, and moderate charges. On one of the neighbouring bilis stands a conical beacon or telegraph, by the norwegians called a varde, and used by them chiefly for announcing an enemy's approach. For the purpose of transmitting other intelligence of a public nature to the capital, telegraphs also have of late years been established along the most important parts of the coast of norway. A varde is composed of a number of fir-trees placed together, somewhat like hop-poles in the english hop-grounds when they are not in use. They are each erected on some conspicuous eminence, and in cases of need, are set on fire in succession, until the alarm is communicated to the capital, and in a short time spread over the whole country. In the centre of the valley stands a large isolated rock of the colour of red granite, on the top of which a few hardy shrubs announce to the inhabitants the earliest approach of spring. Numerous sea, land, and coast birds, are seen continually hovering about. The few little farm houses and their gardens, are prettily and securely enclosed with fences of wood placed in the ground diagonally, as is the general practice in norway. They have many fields of corn, hay, and flax, producing in good seasons, abundant crops; their cattle are well fed, and in good condition. Brekke is a place of no trade, and its principal support is derived from travellers, and persons occupied in felling timber and deals in the adjacent woods, and in conveying them to longsound, a small seaport between krageröe and bervig in the scager rack, from whence are procured supplies of cheese, groceries, tobacco, wines, spirits, and many useful and necessary articles imported there from holland, england, and other countries. Longsound is the residence of several ship-owners; its principal exports are timber and deals. The little valley of brekke vies with many others in norway in picturesque beauty. The hills and rocks are on a small scale; the clear and silent little stream is seen meandering around their bases until its confluence with the bay of having fiord; its banks are adorned with a variety of shrubs and small flowers; the fields enriched with bright waving corn, contrasted by the dark clusters of firs and hoary granite rocks, give to this place an inviting appearance, that might well attract a more numerous population. On the present visit the favourable opinion of this little interesting place was heightened by recollection of the perilous journey from waller that route had been chosen by the guide as the shortest to brekke, over a country which "would have terrified any one unaccustomed to norway; it certainly exceeded every thing i had yet met with, being generally covered with large fragments of rock, loose stones, and among them many smooth slabs, over which the horses slide in a peculiar manner, sitting down behind, suddenly stopping and carefully advancing one foot, to ascertain if the next stone be immoveable. These difficulties continued for about ten miles, the journey being partly performed during a dark night in a gloomy forest, the terrors of which were rather enhanced by the presence of an ill-looking athletic guide, and by the reflection that there was probably no other human being within a distance of several miles. In justice to this poor faithful fellow, and to all others of his profession who came under my notice, i am glad to bear testimony to their honesty, care, and willingness to oblige, neither do i recollect having seen or heard of an instance of that treachery, which in other countries too frequently characterizes this class of men, who when tempted by poverty and vicious habits, to acts of plunder, hardly scruple to commit murder, in the delusive hope of concealing their crimes. Date: 1800. Brekke (JW Edy plate 31)
Loading...
