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CHAP. remarkable, that, when we first heard of them, we could scarcely credit the fact of their existence so far to the northward of those latitudes in which the larger animals of the feline tribe naturally roam. These are, the three different kinds of Lynx which infest the northern forests of Norway, called Goube by the common people; the wolf-goube, the fox-goube, and the cat-goube. They are all three of them extremely rare : their skins, when taken, sell upon the spot for twenty-five or thirty dollars; and after being exported to Hamburgh, they are sold at much higher prices. Two of these animals, of the kind called cat-goube, were taken a short time before our arrival. We saw a drawing of one of them: the animal, from this representation, exactly resembled a tiger: it had a grey skin, beautifully variegated with black spots. They were both sent to Christiania, alive, there to be shipped for England, and, as it was said, for Sir Joseph Banks. They are much more destructive among cattle than either the bear or the wolf. A single cat-goube will destroy twenty cows in one night. The cat-goube has the finest and most valuable skin, but it is not so large as the wolf-goube. Their worst enemy is the wild-cat, an animal very like themselves. Although of smaller size, its almost continual employment is

to look out for them in their holes, and steal their prey from them. The farmers know very well when a goube has been among their cattle; not only from the number of the cattle destroyed, but from the delicacy shewn by the animal in the choice of its food: as from a sheep, or a goat, it will only take the udder, and a part of the head; and from cows, the blood only; which is the cause why so many cows are found dead, whenever the goube has attacked them.

CHAP.

ture.

V.

All sorts of garden vegetables are common in Horticulthe neighbourhood of Trönÿem. The towns and cities of Norway were formerly supplied with culinary herbs from England and Holland; but this supply ceased to be necessary, when gardening grew into vogue among the inhabitants. Pontoppidan says', but this change was partly owing to a very useful little treatise, entitled the Norway Horticulture, published at Trönijem by Christian Gartner. The farmers in the neighbourhood were, at the time of our visit, very loud in their praises of a kind of turnip, called Kale Raby; which either has not yet been introduced into England, or, having been introduced, has not succeeded, owing perhaps to its not

(1) Natural History of Norway, Part I. p. 113. Lond. 1755,

V.

CHAP. being properly cultivated. Our friend Mr. Williamson presented us with the seed of it, and brought a fine specimen of the living plant to shew to us. He considered it as a most important acquisition for the agriculturist. This kind of turnip, which is not the Swedish turnip, is of a yellow colour. It is very much cultivated by the Norway farmers, and has an agreeable refreshing flavour, even when it is eaten raw. The root grows to a very large size; but the most profitable part of it is derived from the green leaves, which resemble those of a cabbage; these are used as fodder for the cattle. By cutting off only the outer leaves, and taking care not to injure the heart, they are made to sprout again, and supply an abundant crop. Cattle are remarkably fond of them, either green Kale Raby. or dried. The Kale Raby, or Cabbage Turnip, endures the frosty nights of the Norwegian harvest, better than potatoes. Mr. Williamson, who had brought this plant to great perfection, gave us the following instructions as to the proper method of sowing and transplanting it. The seed should be sown in the spring, in good garden soil: one ounce of seed will be sufficient for a bed of twenty yards length. The young plants are to be transplanted in June, into a good, but not a rich soil, without adding any

manure; four plants being set in every square of three feet. A plot of ground, thirty-five English yards square, will yield, in good years, thirty Norway tons, or twenty English quarters of these turnips. The Kale Raby affords a delicious vegetable, when boiled for the table.

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of the Nor

The permanent health and longevity of the Longevity Norwegians have long rendered proverbial the wegians. salubrity of the country and its climate. Judging from the healthy appearance of the inhabitants of Trönÿjem, and the numerous instances that have occurred of persons attaining an age far beyond the usual period allotted to human life, it would appear that sickness is rare among them. This is the more remarkable, as they are much addicted to the use of spirituous liquors, but especially to punch, which the celebrated Dr. Cheyne, of Bath, considered as a dangerous poison'. They even maintain that the preservation of their health is owing to their frequent use of this beverage. In medicine, they make much use of the Lichen Islandicus, which is found upon all their mountains.

(1) "It is likest opium, both in its nature and in the manner of its operation, and nearest arsenick in its deleterious and poisonous qualities: and so I leave it to them, who, knowing this, will yet drink on and die." Essay of Health and Long Life, by GEORGE CHEYNE, M.D. F.R.S. p. 59. Lond. 1725.

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CHAP. But their favourite physic is camphor; and this they seem to consider as a panacéa; administering it in all disorders. According to their own account of its healing properties, they find it most effectual in curing colds. The instanceś mentioned of longevity are sometimes such as to exceed all belief; such as that of the Bishop of Havanger, mentioned by Ramus, who, about the middle of the fifteenth century, died at the age of 202. But there are instances more certain. Adrian Rother, seventy years Alderman of Trönijem, died about the beginning of the seventeenth century, aged 120. This is mentioned by Mittzovius. There was also a Clergyman in the diocese of Trönÿjem, mentioned by Ramus, who lived to be 150 years old, being blind thirty years. His successor lived also to an uncommon old age. But almost all the instances of great longevity in Norway refer to the inhabitants of this town and neighbourhood. Hans Aasen, who first erected copperworks at Röråås, died at the age of 116. Persons curious to examine other instances of the like nature will find many more of them enumerated by Pontoppidan'. The whole district

(1) Natural History of Norway, Part II. p. 256. Lond. 1755.