The Norse-Folk; Or, a Visit to the Homes of Norway and Sweden (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1857. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... This is the most northerly town in Europe, lat. 70 40' on the same degree in America is perpetual snow, and scarcely any human life. We reached it at eleven o'clock, P.m., in broad daylight. There was a question, whether there was any hotel there at all, so that our first steps were in search of one. We were directed to one of the best-looking merchant's houses, were received by a dignified host, and at once shown to neat, quiet rooms, furnished in the usual style, with narrow beds with huge feather beds for coverlids, chairs, a pretty birch table set into the wall (we see much exquisite furniture made of the polished birch), papered walls, and uncarpeted floors. The house has an immense number of apartments, a large billiard-room, a pretty supper-room, and the family parlour below stairs. One of the rooms below is the store and counting-house, where is kept for sale almost every article needed by man, and capable of being brought or sold here, from fish-oil and reindeer skins up to oranges and thermometers. As soon as possible we were out exploring the little town. It was nearly twelve, but the hour seemed no nearer bedtime than in the morning. Hammerfest consists of some three streets, a square, and a church--the square having a dangerous-looking well in the centre. It was horribly muddy, and impregnated with the smell of the boiling fish oil. The wharves were hung with the stock-fisch (cod), tied together and hanging over poles. The great object of every traveller to Hammerfest, besides seeing the Arctic town, is to get a view of the midnight sun--so we soon started, ladies and all, to climb the hill behind the town. There were represented in our party England, Ireland, Germany, Iceland, Norway, and America; and the latter had the largest deputation. There w...