File:Town of Skeen (JW Edy plate 36).jpg

The number of beautiful scenes which occur in the way from Porsground to Skeen, distant about nine English miles, affords to the traveller great entertainment, which is enhanced by an excellent road. One exception must be remarked, in a steep, rough, and dangerous descent down a street into Skeen, surpassing in abruptness most other entrances to Norwegian towns : its inclination appears to be from 30 to 40 degrees ; at certain distances, many large stones are placed, to check the velocity of wheel carriages, which in their descent, traverse from side to side, with great caution, like a boat sailing against the wind; by these evolutions they are frequently overturned. From the top of this acclivity the town and adjacent country are surveyed as on a map. Skeen consists of about 400 houses, a new church, many saw and corn-mills, large warehouses, and timber-yards, iron and other wharfs, &c. &c. This view is taken from the top of a range of rocks, about a mile below the rough street mentioned above, and nearly opposite the residence of the governor of the town, distinguishable by an obelisk in the garden adjoining. Over it is seen, part of the principal branch of the unnavigable river, which brings the superfluous waters from the mountains, and a chain of lakes in Tellemarkens, terminating behind the gardens with a romantic fall into the Skeen Fiord. Within a mile of the town, this bay also is unnavigable for ships, in consequence of the islands, rocks, and falls, with which it is obstructed. Boats manage pretty well through the shallow water, particularly the pram, of light construction, with a long elevated prow, carrying two or three persons. At every rill or fall, the mill wheels in perpetual motion, give the place a very lively appearance. A wooden bridge of four arches, is projected over the basin, from a middle point of rocky land in the town, affording easy access to a western road, and to some saw-mills, in the lower town, below which in deep water, and in a convenient place, the few ships receive their cargoes. The church is built in the form of a Greek cross, of stock or pale yellow bricks, covered with tiles. The white edifice seen over the center arch of the bridge, is the assembly-house, and concert rooms ; on the plain above, are some good houses and villas; to the right is seen part of Fossum. The forests and high mountains in the back ground, give a sublime aspect to the scene, affording in timber and iron ores, an abundant source of wealth. Corn, barley, oats, flax, and hemp, are seen on the cultivated lands ; and the gardens are stocked with vegetables and herbs for culinary purposes, as well as with strawberries and some fruit trees. There being no prohibitory laws in Norway respecting game, the peasants bring a good supply from the woods and mountains, also of ducks, and fresh water fish from the lakes, which they offer at small prices, from door to door. The rivers about the town also increase the supply of fresh fish, and boats are often at the wharfs with cargoes of many species of sea fish. Salmon, crabs, lobsters, &c. &c, are always to be had when in season. Skeen - may fairly be denominated a desirable place of residence, replete with the necessary conveniences and comforts of life. Eagles and other birds of prey, are seen hovering over the mountains and valleys, where often to the farmer's cost they thin his flocks, in conjunction with the greater depredators, the bear, the wolf, and the fox. Wherever the dog is seen always armed with his spiked collar, it may fairly be presumed that their nocturnal visits are frequent. There are large black venomous serpents, in the mountainous parts ; one of them bit my large Danish dog on the cheek, near Porsground, and the virulence of the poison injected, was such as to cause a stupor, the part swelling to an enormous size in an hour. It subsided as fast, at the inn in town, after a peasant had applied a specific, either known to him only, or used by the mountaineers in similar cases. The dog was perfectly well the next day, and as alert as ever. The granite rocks general through Norway, prevail here ; many of them are rich with iron stone, as the works at Fossum amply testify. The inclination of their strata, is uniformly about 45 degrees. They are of a grey, red, or purple tint, and among them are to be found terra ponderosa, micaceous, and other spars; abundant remains of the dreadful effects of dire tempests, or volcanic eruptions, in remote ages. On the rocks are many beautiful mosses, and in the vallies or small hills, wild strawberries, juniper, and cranberry bushes, decorated with a few wild flowers, which last, with the odoriferous herbs, generally maintain a small colony of bees, whose chosen retreat is in the small fir, or in the hawthorn bush ; there they construct their hive, or nest, in form and size like a net cheese ; it is composed of innumerable laminæ of a lead coloured material, an inch and half in thickness, which when separated, floats in the air, like ashes of burnt paper. In the cavity is carefully deposited the honey in combs, of the sweetest and best quality; the whole is suspended by a thread from a branch, in the thickest part of the foliage, about four feet from the ground. The bees are small and lively. The few flowers, the wild thyme, and other sweet herbs, and plants, are carefully examined, and their sweets collected by these little industrious creatures. In the woods are also flies, serpents, gnats, toads, frogs, rats, mice, and ants, with many other reptiles. The hosts of birds, with the exception of a few that are well known, require a minute description, far beyond the limits or design of this work. The same may be said of the fishes, though each very singular or curious specimen will be noticed more or less as it presents itself. The swallow, swift, and martin, are here during the months of July and August, about the close of which period they migrate southward. Magpies, which are very numerous, are stationary, being protected as the common appendage to the dwelling of the poor man, who in winter, benevolently hangs out a sheaf of corn from his scanty stock, for their support.