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<table class="mw-collapsible" style="background: transparent; text-align: left; border: 1px solid Silver; margin: 0.2em auto auto; width:100%; clear: both; padding: 1px;"><tbody><tr><th style="background: #CFC; font-size:87%; padding:0.2em 0.3em; text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:115%">No. XXXIV. TOWN OF BREVIG.</span>
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<p>This interesting view is from an eminence looking eastward over the inner harbour at Brevig. The drawbridge connects this part of the town with another portion, which extends considerably to the right. They are both governed by the same laws, and participate in the same commereial and civil advantages. A large hand some stone church, with a lofty tower and spire, built on a commanding eminence, constitutes an interesting feature, as seen from the town or Fiord. Its exterior being of a pure white, it forms, with its large clock, a conspicuous object at a distance, and is of great importance as a landmark to mariners. 
</p><p>The greater part of the exports, consisting of white timber, spars and ufers, are sent to Holland. This trade is chiefly engrossed by three merchants. The harbour which in figure forms nearly the Roman letter D, is studded with houses around its margin ; numbers of them are intercepted by the cliffs from the present view, which is taken from an elevated spot, near the road to Porsground. This point was chosen as commanding a great range of picturesque scenery, including the Fiord with its islands, the distance towards Helgeröe, and the most prominent points of land intervening to the right and left, and terminating with the Skager Rack. An idea is thus given of the extensive passage by the Frith, to and from the Categat, and the Scager. To the right of the picture, and over a magazine for arms and accoutrements, built on four stone supports, is seen the entrance to Skeen Fiord. The main branch on the left terminates a little higher in the interior, without presenting any place of considerable note. Fishing appears to be the second consideration at this town ; and the indefatigable exertions of the men engaged in it, are amply rewarded. They have a method which I have not elsewhere observed of catching eels by night, somewhat similar to that practised by nocturnal bird-catchers in England. The parties proceed in boats to the cliffs, under which the fish harbour in deep water, the light of torches allures them to the surface, when by means of nets great numbers are taken with ease; they are readily purchased by the returning Dutchmen and are taken alive to Holland, where they are sought by the fishermen as bait for the turbot, in lieu of the lamprey, which however is most esteemed. Dutch vessels of all descriptions are to be seen in the harbour even in winter. And hence a constant supply of every article of necessity or luxury from Holland, is afforded to the resident inhabitants, as well as to coasting vessels, and to travellers. In former times the people here must have been highly interested in descrying from so lofty an eminence their victorious fleets, returning triumphantly up this beautiful Frith, which doubtless led to many secure and impregnable retreats, then unknown to the rest of the world. Here their ships in the short intervals of repose, were kept in condition, ready for service, clinging like limpets to the sides of the stu pendous rocks, whose hoary summits out-topped their masts, the water reflecting like a polished mirror, every surrounding object, without even a ripple on its silvery surface. I did not observe that the inhabitants of this place, used a distinguishing strie of dress, like the people of the interior, where the peasants of one parish wear for instance, a white coat or jacket, edged with black, while their neighbours in the next parish, appear in black, edged with yellow, others in black or brown, edged with red, and so on. They are stout, hardy men, rise early, eat moderately, and as far as I could ascertain, are friendly with each other. They are regular in attendance at their church, the path to which, had a pretty appearance on a fine sunday. The motley dresses, particularly those worn by some of their females, were singularly showy. Here, as at Oster Keøser, and other places in the west of Norway, the females hare among their sunday decorations, caps made of gilt paper, which might remind one of those worn in London on a May-day, but not with the grace of the Norwegian fair. The horses, and their furniture in particular, are much better here, than farther to the westward; the hire of them is nearly alike, except in the immediate stages to or from a town. For two horses and a guide from this place to Porsground, (distant about ten English miles) the charge is one shilling sterling; at Christiansand it was two rix dollars, for the same distance ; and from Sone to the last mentioned place, only one shilling and nine-pence, and two-pence to the man. The price is increased at every town, on the way to Christiania. The guide either man or woman, and oftentimes a male or female friend, keep pace with the horse, and at the close of the journey generally take the traveller to some particular house, for which they have a preference, and this recommendation if accepted, usually ensures to him food and lodging. If their services are approved, a small gratuity is thankfully received, but it is not solicited. When discharged and paid they mount their horses and return home. Among this people, the spirit of rambling, either on agricultural or other higher pursuits, is such, that on the approach of a traveller to a farm or post-house, down goes the spade or other instrument in use, and a search begins for the horses in the woods, which generally occupies two or three hours, in little better than idleness. An accurate observer of the habits of the Norwegians remarks, "it were much to be wished that a species of industry had first struck root in the vallies of Norway, being so perfectly suited to the inventive talents and habits of the Norwegians; their long winter nights yield them much time for domestic occupations, and the materials required for many manual employments, may be at hand, or may be more easily procured than materials used in large manufactories." Before the Royal Society in Christiania was established, many great and distinguished Norwegians, having constantly at heart, their country's prosperity, spared neither trouble nor expence to procure models of most foreign improvements, with an accurate description of their uses. Having seen many of them in Norway, I firmly hope that their enlightened possessors will eventually adopt a mode most agreeable to themselves, of shewing and explaining their several uses and improvements, to the ingenious part of the community, as near the residence of poor people as possible, or at a convenient place allotted for that laudable purpose, with free access to all ranks. By such means the latent spark of national genius would soon be successfully elicited in Norway.
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<bdi><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:John_William_Edy" class="extiw" title="w:en:John William Edy"><span title="Danish engraver and painter, active in London (1760-1820)">John William Edy</span></a>
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1800<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1800-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
<i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2011072910001">Boydell's picturesque scenery of Norway</a></i>, London, 1820. Plate no. 34 (p. 205 in scanned copy)