Before travelling farther we shall do well to prepare ourselves for any
unexpected apparitions, should such be our good fortune. Let us then
review their varieties, as we hear them described by some who believe
they have seen them. They may be classified as follows:—
The _Trold_, or _Eventyr Trold_—_eventyr_ meaning “fairy tale”—is
more frequently introduced into fairy tales than met by tourists, or
even sportsmen: it is very shy of foreigners. This particular class
is distinguished by having one, two, or three eyes, and sometimes one,
three, six, or nine heads—a sort of giant, wild man, or inland Caliban
of eighteen feet high.
[Music]
The _Bjerg Trold_, as the name suggests, frequents the mountains, and
belongs to the same class as the former, though smaller, attaining a
height of only twelve feet; in fact, it is a medium male ogre.
_The Huldre._—This is a great fairy-tale mystery—the refined beauty
in peasant Hardanger costume, who sometimes appears—as mentioned in
our notes on Thelemarken—at dances and festivities, turning the heads
of all the beaux of the evening until, in some swing of the spring
dance, her dread cow-tail is revealed, when she vanishes as the music
of D. T. A. Tellefsen suggests, leaving many broken hearts behind her.
_Nökken._—Water sprites, generally depicted with Neptune crowns, grey
beards, and seaweed garments.
_Nisser._—These are the mischievous little rascals who are always up
to tricks here, there, and everywhere, and are closely allied to the
sprites known in the Romsdal fjelds as the Höboken. These latter are
seriously spoken of as existing, and having blue heads; and while up at
the _sæters_ a spare place inside is invariably left for them by the
_piger_. The Nisser are depicted with grey clothes, long beards, short
bodies, and red caps; the shortness of the body recalling to our minds
a remark of days gone by, “Perhaps Mr. Nobody did it.”
_Hauge folket_ are a combination of Huldre and Nisser.
_Tufti folket_ are a peculiar variety of Nisser.
_Drangen_ are the ghosts or spirits of drowned persons.
Having classified these mystic folk, we can only hope that the
information we have culled from authentic and local sources will not
only help those who have already read Norwegian legends, but give a
zest to those that may be forthcoming in future translations. Those
interested in early witches will find details of Craca, the witch
of Norway, in Olaus Magnus, “De Gentibus Septentrionalibus,” a work
probably well known to our immortal bard Shakspere, as Craca was great
in using “venomous moisture of snakes.” A caldron, too, was the common
instrument of witches, wherein they boiled juices, herbs, worms, and
entrails for enchantments.
Norwegian fairy tales are numerous, and traces of Trold lore are found
all through the provinces, and constantly referred to in every-day
life; at least, so we found. It is, however, possible that “the wish
was father to the thought,” and that we rather courted than avoided
referring to them. Unfortunately they came not, although a rattle
of flying rocks down a _couloir_ was always attributed to them. We
shall not find them in Bergen, that is certain; only Huldre appears
in public, and she coyly at the festivities: she delights not in
war-paint, _gibuses_, or opera hats.
• • • • •
Olaf Kyrre, the old Norse king, built, or rather developed, Bergen into
a town about 1070. Easy of access, and naturally adapted as a centre
for trade, it has now become the most important commercial town of the
west coast. The principal tradition of Bergen is, that ever since the
introduction of umbrellas every little Bergenite has been presented
with one as soon as born, another being bestowed by the godfathers and
godmothers at confirmation; and it is only reasonable to suppose that
at a wedding every one gives the bride a Sangster or a Gamp, according
to circumstances. Anyhow, it is an indisputable fact that umbrellas are
plentiful in Bergen, and, when not devoted to keeping off the rain,
they serve as a screen against the occasional visits of the sun. No
doubt this humidity is owing to the position of the town, which lies
between two mountains not less than 2,500 feet high, upon and around
which Jupiter Pluvius reigns supreme.
Passing from the climate, we must notice the town or city. Approaching
it from the fjord, it looks picturesque and busy, with merchantmen,
steam tugs, steam launches, and coasting steamers entering the
harbour. On the left is the old castle or palace, with the remains of
its banqueting hall, supposed to have been built by Olaf at the same
time as the church. On the right is the landing-place for steamers,
above which, on a part of the town abutting on the fjord and forming
a continuation of the principal street, is a fort. Proceeding farther
down the harbour, with the churches before us, on the left we pass the
ship-building yard, and come upon a long line of white wooden houses
with wharfs in front of them—a busy scene, fraught with energy and
_bouquet de stokfiske_. Alongside lie the Nordland _jægts_, or vessels
which bring the fish down dried from the Lofoden Islands, and their
crews are in close commercial relationship with the owners of the white
wooden structures which are known by the name of the Hanseatic Houses.
Olaf Kyrre had favoured the Scotch with certain privileges for trading
at Bergen, but in after years the Hanseatic League made great efforts
in the same direction, and successfully; for in 1228 they settled and
began to trade in Bergen, and by some extraordinary means ousted the
Scotch and English entirely by 1312, when they were left in their
trading glory. They soon developed the vast fishing trade of Nordland,
and made Bergen the great commercial centre which it now is, receiving
dried cod-fish and roes from the north. These are sent, in exchange for
wine, corn, iron, and so forth, to Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Spain,
England, and various parts of the Mediterranean, but especially to
the Roman Catholic countries. Still, these German merchants were not
entirely happy; they, the Hanseatics, located together on one side of
the harbour, were not much liked by the youth and beauty of the Bergen
proper side of the town, receiving from the Norske _piger_, or Bergen
beauties, the characteristic and appropriate _sobriquet_ of “Pepper
Youngsters” (_Pfeffer Junkers_), which still clings to them.
[Illustration: _Bergen._]
[Illustration: _Bergen: Fish Market in the distance._]
Bergen must have been very imposing in appearance in the old times,
when the large Hanseatic craft were warping out of the entrance of the
harbour, with their high quarter-deck and taffrail-deck lamps,
squarely rigged three masts and steeving bowsprit, jack-yard and
water-sail, long pennons and streamers from the yard-arms, the sides
of the vessel falling well in, and the guns bristling to frighten any
who might take a fancy to the good cargo on board. Now the Hanseatic
League is a matter of ancient history, but it did its work well, and
will not soon be forgotten. Bergen is at present the source of supply
to all places to the north of it, and in itself is interesting to the
visitor as being a centre of costume—that charming relic of days
almost bygone, when each district had its distinctive dress and its
special form of silver ornament, which, however quaint, or, to go
further, even ugly, still commanded favour by the respect its presence
offered to those who had gone before, and most likely had worn it. The
costumes are well seen at the market, when the farmers, or _bönder_,
come in with farm produce, bringing their wives and daughters, with
the milk in wooden kegs formed like churns, with leather stretched
over the top, and hoops pressed down tightly to keep it from spilling.
These milk-cans are carried by the women on their backs, with straps
or ropes, like knapsacks. One costume is very noticeable here, that
of the fish-girls. It consists of a dark blue petticoat and jacket,
a kind of Scotch bonnet well pulled over the head, with a white
edging of cap coming a little down and showing all round, and roll
upon roll of kerchief round their necks. Robust, pictures of health,
and muscular, how they row! When their husbands or brothers are with
them they row all the same, being quite capable of the first law
of nature—self-preservation. They work hard and in earnest, and
always look _bien soignées_. For flow of language the early fish
market conveys a good idea of the activity of the tongue and power of
gesticulation—features of life not common to Norway. The boats are all
down below, and the purchasers, generally domestic servants, hang over
the woodwork above, craning their necks and stretching down, pointing
first to this, and then to that, and possibly pushed aside ere long by
some one else worming in for a bargain.
In the meantime the fishermen in the boats are taking it very quietly,
sorting their fish, feeling that their purchasers can be supplied
_strax_. Now this word in the dictionary is described thus:—“_Strax_,
directly or immediately.” Practically, in Norwegian life, the traveller
finds that it is no such thing, _strax_ being a movable feast—so
movable that it is impossible to say where it will be. It is not even
so sure as the “Coming, sir,” mumbled by a flying waiter in the midst
of a crowd of customers about one o’clock; for in the latter case, if
you wait until two o’clock, you feel there is a probability looming,
but with a Norwegian _strax_, especially if applied to getting horses
for carrioles, it may be hours, or, in the words of what was thought a
charming song in our younger days, though now half forgotten, “It may
be for years, or it may be for ever.”
Bergen is especially associated with the registers of the sea serpent;
therefore the subject should be referred to here. Crews and captains
have voluntarily sworn to having seen in various parts of the ocean
strange monsters of the deep, usually of serpentine form; and judging
from the illustrations in that interesting work by Olaus Magnus the
Goth, “De Gentibus Septentrionalibus” (dated A.D. 1530), the
sea monsters depicted therein were enough to frighten any artist,
particularly if he were on the spot where the said creatures were
visible. Still many wonders of the deep may be studied with advantage
at the Bergen Museum. Lately this institution has been brought
prominently to light, thanks to the energy of M. Lorange, who has
found a grand field for his enthusiasm in Scandinavian relics, flint
implements, and specimens of the “glorious Viking period.” But we must
not be carried away by this interesting topic from paying due attention
to a strange-looking creature in this museum, which is kept in spirits
and labelled—
“SILDE KONGE (_Gymnetrus Glesue Ascanius_).
“Length (dried), without tail, 12 feet. Depth, 1 foot. Head blunt,
square. Bristles, or capillaries, 3 feet; 8 from above, 6 under the
chin.”
The whales are very fine and enormous specimens, being eighty feet
long. Why, then, should there not be gigantic _silder_? A Highlander
was once speaking of the grandeur and size of Scotland, when a remark
was made that the area was small. “Tout, tout, mon! But if you saw it
rolled out, just think what it would be then!” So, were we to roll out
a ninety-foot whale, should we not have as good a sea serpent as any
newspaper might desire?
Now that costume is being fast swept away, the old silver of Norway
bought up by travelling dealers for the town silversmiths to export,
the old carving replaced by cheap feather-edge boarding, and the
_mangel brats_ chased away by “Baker’s patent” or some other brand-new
patent, a general national museum like this of Bergen becomes
especially desirable, and even necessary, for retaining in the country
itself its own characteristics. In flint weapons it is especially
rich, thanks to M. Lorange, who has opened many tumuli with reverence
and care, his perfect knowledge of the subject being a guarantee that
nothing will be overlooked. Natural history, too, is well represented.
The corals found at the entrances to the fjords are astonishing,
immense, being more like shrubs in size. The Runic inscriptions
and carvings, portals, and chairs are most interesting; while the
church decorations of early Christian periods, the ironwork, arms,
and numismatic records, so useful as collateral history and in the
assignment or corroboration of the dates of tumuli, are well cared for.
Most heartily, therefore, do we wish success to the national collection
now so happily commenced, and so full of promise.
The somewhat modern appearance of Bergen and the absence of old wooden
houses are attributable to the disastrous fires which have raged from
time to time in different parts of the city; in fact, so much was
destroyed by the great fire in 1702, that nearly the whole of the town
has been rebuilt, except the old Hanseatic houses. Neither has Bergen
escaped its share of scourges, for the black pestilence made sad havoc
about 1348 or 1350, and the plague destroyed immense numbers about 1620.
Although Bergen is the most important fish mart in Norway, it will
be better to give a detailed description of its working, extent, and
season, when we arrive at the Lofoden fishing grounds and islands,
and the coast of Heligoland and Salten. It seems curious that these
slow-sailing _jægts_ should come five hundred miles with their cargo
of fish, when Trondhjem, Molde, and Aalesund are close to hand; but
on consideration it will be easily understood what an advantage it
must be for them to get a quick and ready sale for their fish, and a
selection of every kind of produce from the warmer climates of the
Mediterranean, or even the West Indies. Whether articles of necessity
or luxury, Bergen can supply anything, from a marlinespike to a sea
serpent.
The museum of antiquities at Bergen now deserves attention, and
in it the Nordfjord is brought especially before us, as we shall
see hereafter. In the meantime we will turn to a few chronological
landmarks in the early days of Gamle Norge, which will be most
valuable, as the catena of Scandinavian history is complete in
specimens of the different periods, corroborated by the archæological
treasures of Denmark, now so admirably arranged by Professor Worsaae
in the museum at Copenhagen, and the collection of antiquities at
Stockholm. Having followed out these different periods, we need only
casually refer to the objects themselves when we come to the districts
where they were originally discovered or still exist.
[Illustration: _Church Candlestand: Bergen Museum._]
_The Flint Period._—For a long time it was supposed that Norway
had no stone period: now flint implements of beautiful surface and
exquisite finish are found up to lat. 65°, beyond which, and near the
North Cape, the implements are of hard schist, the local formation of
that part. Among these specimens are found of arrow and spear heads,
and knives. The hammers are generally made of whatever the rock of
the country may be. This use of hard schist for stone implements is
corroborated by discoveries in similar latitudes in Sweden and Finland.
A very fine dolmen is still in existence at Frederickshald, in the
south of Norway—a spot which, to judge from the number of tumuli in
the neighbourhood, generally placed on rising ground within view of
the sea, is a perfect cemetery. Their average height is about 3 feet 6
inches to 4 feet, and length about 35 feet. Near Stavanger the flint
implements are of exquisite finish.
_The Bronze Period._—It is interesting to associate this period with
two systems of burial, namely, Inhumation and Cineration.
_Inhumation._—Wooden coffin—a tree scooped out; at the bottom was
placed a bullock’s skin, on which the hero was laid in his garments,
and with his arms by his side. An instance occurred in which the
following items were preserved quite perfectly:—A _vadmel_; a kind of
Phrygian cap; a wool plaid and petticoat, or rather kilt, to the knee;
a small box; a comb; and a bronze sword and knife. These, with a belt
for the waist, convey a vivid idea of the costume of the period.
[Illustration: _Knife-stone on Bronze Belt: Bergen Museum._]
_Cineration._—Flint stones seem to have been the base of the grave,
which was about seven feet long. Remains of cinders prove that the skin
of some animal was first laid down, then the body with extra garments,
in the cinders of which the bones were found, accompanied by a bronze
sword, with sheath; two knives of bronze; and a cube of wood, not
burnt. The bronze implements are so generally known that it is not
necessary to illustrate them.
[Illustration: _Hard Schist implements: North Cape._]
_The Iron Period._—During this period the tumuli were consumed on
elevated positions within view of the sea; the bones discovered are
burnt, the ashes being in urns. The objects burnt with them were
generally small ornaments of bronze or iron, the workmanship of which
betrays no Roman influence. Sometimes, also, glass vessels were
consumed, as globules of melted glass have been occasionally found.
In other cases the ashes are in bronze vases, showing a transition
state. Should there, however, be any swords, they are bent and twisted,
and are undoubtedly attributable to Roman influence, as some of the
bronze vases bear Roman inscriptions. The next stage covered a large
space, and was characterized sometimes by cineration, and sometimes
by inhumation. In the latter case the objects are placed with great
care after the old Roman manner, and consist of urns of burnt clay,
bronze, and glass; ornaments, arms, &c. Here we have not only actual
Roman work, but Norwegian imitations, such as bracteates, which have
been found with Byzantine moneys struck about A.D. 450 or 500.
This brings us to an important epoch in Scandinavian history, which
is very ably described by Dexter Hawkins, Esq., in a pamphlet on the
Anglo-Saxon Race, being an address read by him before the Syracuse
University, June 21, 1875:—
“THE ANGLO-SAXON RACE.
“A providential event, not originating from themselves, but from
a Roman emperor who intended no such results, occurred at the
close of the third century, which, by directing the attention of
the Saxons to maritime exploits on a larger scale, with greater
prospects, and to more distant countries than before, exerted an
important influence upon their own destiny and that of Europe, and
finally of America.
[Illustration: _Sword: Bergen Museum._]
[Illustration: _Bracelet: Bergen Museum._]
[Illustration: _Rowlock Knot of Birch-stones._]
[Illustration: _Viking Rowlock._]
“The Emperor Probus, harassed by the annual incursions of the
barbarous hordes around the Euxine, now the Black Sea, transplanted
a large body of various tribes, including Saxons from the vicinity
of the Elbe, to that region to serve as a protection against
future inroads. But the attachment of mankind to the scenes of
their childhood, and their ardent longing when in foreign lands
for the country their relatives inhabit, where their most pleasing
associations have been formed, where their individual characters
have been acquired, and customs like to their own exist, are
feelings so natural to every bosom, and so common to every age,
that it is not surprising that these exiles longed to return to
their native wilds. Impelled by this desire, they seized the
earliest opportunity of abandoning their foreign settlements and
possessing themselves of the ships lying in the adjacent harbours;
they formed the daring plan of sailing back to the Rhine, though
they were more than two thousand miles distant by sea, with no
charts, compass, or pilots, and ignorant of the many islands, and
shoals, and currents of the Black and Mediterranean Seas. Compelled
to land wherever they could for supplies, safety, and information,
they ravaged the coasts of Asia and Greece. Arriving at Sicily,
they attacked and plundered its capital with great slaughter.
Beaten about by the winds, often ignorant where they were, seeking
subsistence, pillaging to obtain it, and excited to new plunder
by the successful depredations they had already committed, they
carried their hostilities to several districts of Africa. They
were driven off that continent by a force sent for that purpose
from Carthage. Turning towards Europe, they passed the pillars of
Hercules, sailed out into the Atlantic Ocean, rounded the Iberian
peninsula, crossed the stormy Bay of Biscay, passed through the
British Channel, and finally terminated their remarkable voyage by
reaching their fatherland at the mouth of the Elbe.
[Illustration: _Sword Handle: Bergen Museum._]
[Illustration: _Arrow Heads and Sword Handle: Bergen Museum._]
“This wonderful expedition discovered to these adventurers and to
their neighbours, to all, in short, who heard, and had the courage
to imitate, that from the Roman colonies a rich harvest of spoil
might be gathered if sought for by sea. It removed the veil of
terror that hung over distant oceans and foreign expeditions; for
these exiles had desolated every province almost with impunity.
They had plunder to exhibit sufficient to fire the avarice of every
spectator. They had acquired skill which those who joined them
might soon inherit. On land the Roman tactics and discipline were
generally invincible; but at sea they were comparatively unskilled
and weak. The Saxons perceived this, and immediately turned their
whole attention to naval warfare. Like their American descendants,
they were cunning and apt at whatever they undertook. Their navy
became so effective in a few years that every country in Europe
bordering on the sea had contributed to their wealth, and they
annoyed the Roman commerce to such a degree that large fleets
were fitted out against them, and an officer appointed by the
Romans as early as the beginning of the fifth century styled ‘The
Superintendent of the Saxon Shore.’ These exploits had filled their
island with wealth.”
• • • • •
A very interesting antiquarian discovery was made in 1877 close to a
village in Sealand, some twenty miles from Copenhagen, of which the
following are the most important details:—About three yards below
the ground a grave was discovered, surrounded and covered by large
monoliths, the grave being about six yards long and two yards wide, and
the floor consisting of rough oaken planks, on which were found the
remains of a female in a mummified state. Round the head of the body
were placed several glass cups, one of which bore an inscription, in
Greek characters, signifying “Good luck to you,” and in other cups were
found the remains of various kinds of fish, as well as a gold coin of
the reign of the Roman Emperor Probus. A solid ring of gold encircled
the neck, and a heavy pin of the same metal was also found close to
the body, as well as a couple of finger rings. At the feet were placed
several vessels hollowed out of oak, in which were deposited the bones
of various animals, especially young pigs, and in one of these basins
were discovered forty-two dice burned in bone. In the earth round this
tomb were discovered the remains of several human beings lying in
great disorder, and it is supposed that the bones are those of slaves
sacrificed to the manes of the deceased lady. It is thought probable
that this tomb dates as far back as the third or fourth century after
Christ.
With regard to the initial letter at the head of this chapter, it
is from a remarkable specimen of Runic wood-carving—part of an old
episcopal seat—which will be more fully described when considering
that class of work, of which we find such interesting specimens in the
museums of Norway, especially that of Bergen, and which happily are
well preserved for our study and guidance.