Tent Life With English Gipsies In Norway - free ebook by Hubert (Solicitor) Smith

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Tent Life With English Gipsies In Norway

Hubert (Solicitor) Smith

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52 chapters

PREFACE.

PREFACE.

We awoke one morning; our gipsies were gone; our camp was gone; no light shining through as we lay in our tent. No freshness of the morning air; no wafted perfume of fragrant wild flowers; no music of the waterfall in the glen below. We were left to pursue the pathway of our journey alone. Yet our notes de voyage remained to us. Impressions caught on the wayside of travel—written by the light of actual circumstance—we give them to our readers. They are a true episode in a life. THE AUTHOR....

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THE GIPSY GIRL.

THE GIPSY GIRL.

MAP Showing the Route and Camping grounds of the ENGLISH GIPSIES through NORWAY. Henry S. King &amp; Co, 65 Cornhill, London....

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TENT LIFE WITH ENGLISH GIPSIES IN NORWAY. CHAPTER I.

TENT LIFE WITH ENGLISH GIPSIES IN NORWAY. CHAPTER I.

“The best books are records of the writer’s own experiences of what he himself has seen or known, or—best of all—has done. The writing then becomes naturally concrete, perspicuous, a mirror of the fact; and whether it be a book for the world and for ages, or for nations and generations, there is this common to them all, that they are genuine records of genuine things, and throw light on the subject.”— N. P. Willis. NORWAY—OUR GIPSY TENT—TENT FITTINGS—COOKING APPARATUS—COMMISSARIAT—GIPSIES’ TENT—

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CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II.

“He is an excellent oriental scholar, and he tells me that amongst the gipsies are the remains of a language (peculiar to themselves) in which are traces of Sanscrit. Sir David Baird, too, was remarkably struck with the resemblance of some of the Sepoys to the English gipsies. They are evidently not the dregs of any people. The countenances of many of the females are beautiful, as those of the males are manly.”— The Peacock at Rowsly. GIPSY EQUIPMENT—NORWEGIAN GIPSIES—PRESTEN EILERT SUNDT—THE HU

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CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.

A FRIEND’S MISGIVING—DARK FOREBODINGS—A SLEEPLESS NIGHT—THE RAILWAY STATION—THE ALBION—A PHILOSOPHER—THE STREET BOY—DISTINGUISHED TRAVELLERS. We had nearly completed our preparations, and were leaving town, when we dined one evening with a friend whom we had not seen for some time. He seemed interested in our approaching excursion, but his astonishment was great, when our plan was divulged. “What! going to Norway with gipsies?” said he in amazement, as he poised in his hand, a glass of champagne

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CHAPTER IV.

CHAPTER IV.

ENGLAND’S FAREWELL—SUMMER TOURISTS—THE CHEVALIER—SEAFARING—A GIPSY RECEPTION—CHANGE OF PLANS—NORWEGIAN PILOT—THE BIRMINGHAM BAGMAN—INDUCEMENT TO AUTHORSHIP—STRANGE WILLS—A SAILOR’S PHILOSOPHY—ICELANDIC LANGUAGE—PROGNOSTICATIONS. The steamer’s saloon was elegantly fitted up. Bouquets of flowers shed their fragrance on each table; books, pens, and ink had been supplied for the use of the voyagers. One passenger soon entered, carrying a long sword; another—a French gentleman—followed, and expressed

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CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER V.

A SEAMAN’S ADVENTURES—THE UNFORTUNATE TOURIST—AN APT QUOTATION—FREEMASONRY—CHRISTIANSAND—PAST RECOLLECTIONS—THE RUNIC STONE—OVERPAYMENT—TWO SALMON FISHERMEN—A TRAVELLER’S CURIOSITY—NORWEGIAN SNAKES—SCENERY—WE ARE ONE—GOLDEN OPINIONS. On Sunday morning, the 19th of June, we rose at four o’clock, and went on deck. The morning was cloudy; not a passenger to be seen. The seaman at the helm received our salutation. This one did not possess a moustache, but he had his say, and said it. He philosophise

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CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER VI.

MARINER’S LIFE—THE EVASIVE ANSWER—A TRUE PRESENTIMENT—THE KING OF SWEDEN AND NORWAY—THE BEAUTIFUL FJORD—GIPSY MUSIC—A CUSTOM-HOUSE DIFFICULTY—ANOTHER FREEMASON—APPROPRIATE VERSES—CHRISTIANIA—HORSE MONEY—17, STORE STRANDGADE. The stewards were excellent. One had been shipwrecked several times. “Rough work in winter, sir. Most on the line get lost. At Hull most of the young men who go to sea are drowned.” Not very encouraging information, thought we, but such are the chances of a seaman’s life. Ha

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NORWEGIAN MONEY.

NORWEGIAN MONEY.

There are dollar notes. One (een), variegated coloured paper; five (fem), blue; ten (ti), yellow; fifty (femti), green; one hundred dollars (hundrede dollars), pink. Immediately Presten Sundt caught sight of our gipsies at the station, he commenced speaking in the Romany language. He tried their knowledge of Romany numerals. Noah, we believed, failed at five or six. Their reckoning powers are not of high order, especially as they are unable to read and write. Baudrimont, in his work containing a

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CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.

A NORWEGIAN OFFICER—NORWEGIAN EMIGRATION—EIDSVOLD—THE SKYDSKIFTET—QUIET RETREAT—HAPPY HOURS—BAIERSK ÖL—ESMERALDA’S TOILETTE—THE TRANSFORMATION—CURIOUS ADDRESS—NEW ACQUAINTANCE—NOAH’S ENGAGEMENT—NOAH’S CONQUEST—AN UNGRATEFUL VISITOR—A RELUCTANT PARTING. Two or three other passengers were seated in our first-class compartment. The accommodation was very comfortable. In the carriage, above our seat, there was a small tap, and drinking-glass, for the supply of deliciously clear, pure iced water, for

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CHAPTER IX.

CHAPTER IX.

MODERATE BILL—PROVISIONS LOST—WE MEET AGAIN—GIPSIES IN ADVANCE—LEFT ALONE—A WELCOME TELEGRAM—NORWEGIAN BATH ROOM—SINGULAR PAINTINGS—ONCE MORE FAREWELL—THE TELEGRAPH CLERK—THE MJÖSEN LAKE—THE DRONNINGEN—RUINED CATHEDRAL—UTILITARIANISM—LILLEHAMMER—ONCE MORE IN CAMP. Our bill was moderate—four dollars, four marks, and eight skillings; twenty-four skillings for attendance seemed quite sufficient. Our things were all placed on a truck; Esmeralda carried Zacharia’s violin, our guitar, and our two extr

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CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER X.

“Let us rest a bit in our tent this fine evening to collect our memoranda from the note-book hurriedly pencilled. Yet it is not easy to withdraw the eye from the beautiful picture before us, framed by the curtains of our canvas boudoir.”— The Rob Roy on the Jordan. OUR FIRST CAMP—CAMP VISITORS—GIPSY MUSIC—FOREIGN TABLEAU—CURIOUS OBSERVATIONS—PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE—EARLY START—LAING’S SUGGESTIONS—THE GUDBRANSDALEN—THE HUNNEFOS—THE AUSTRALIAN MEAT—CAMP RULES—THE PAIR OF GLOVES—SUDDEN SHADOWS—O

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EXTRACT FROM THE DAGBLADET, NO. 142, 23rd JUNE, 1870. CHRISTIANIA.

EXTRACT FROM THE DAGBLADET, NO. 142, 23rd JUNE, 1870. CHRISTIANIA.

“Blandt den Mængde af fremmede Turister skrwer Mgbl., der i disse Dage opholder seg hei i Byen for herfra at tiltræde Reisen om i Landet, er ogsaa en Engelskmand Mr. Smith, der er saa lykkeligat have opdaget en ny Specialitet inden Turistlwets Enemœrker. Han reiser nemlig ikke hrerkeu i Kariol, eller Kano, meu tilfods og forer alligevel med sig Mad, Drikke, Klœder, Sko, Hus, Hjem og alle andre Livets Velsignelser lige indtil gode Naboer. Han ledsages kort at fortœlle af 3 Æfler, paa lwis Ryg der

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TRANSLATION OF THE FOREGOING.

TRANSLATION OF THE FOREGOING.

“Among the numerous foreign tourists, says the Morgen bladett (Morning Paper), there is at present staying at Byen, with an intention of proceeding inland, an English gentleman, Mr. Smith, who has made a new invention for the use of tourists. He neither travels by carriage or boat, but on foot, and nevertheless carries with him food, drink, clothes, shoes, and every other necessary of life in a small compass. It consists of a folding contrivance on three donkeys, in which the articles are packed

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CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.

“Many times he would go into the forest of the peeke, and set up ther his tent, with great provision of viteles, and would remaine ther vii weeks or more hunting and making other worthy pastimes unto his company.”— Hunter’s South Yorkshire . UNSUCCESSFUL FISHING—A MILITARY OFFICER—THE DERNIER RESSORT—OUR GIPSY RECEPTION—INTERRUPTED TOILETTE—FÊTE CHAMPÊTRE—DANCING ON THE GREENSWARD—TINCTURE OF CEDAR—THE DISAPPOINTMENT—THE LOSNA VAND—THE KETTLE PROP LOST—PEASANT CHILDREN—INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS—WR

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CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII.

WET TRAVELLING—VODVANG—OUR RUSSIAN LAMP—SWEDISH VISITORS— ALL WELL—MY HOBBINENGREE—THE CHILD OF NATURE—GUITAR SONGS—THE VILLAGE BEAU—MERLES GONE—THE MUSKETOS’ VICTORY —MORE RAIN—SCOTCH TRAVELLER—TIMBER FLOATERS—GIPSIES— ENRAGED ENGLISHMAN—THE FRIGHTENED SKYDSKARL—GIPSIES’ ENDURANCE—THE LISTARI COMMOTION—LISTAD SCENERY. Our donkeys were pressed onwards, and passed some carts laden with merchandise. Anxiously our gipsies looked out for a camping ground. The waters of the lake, dashed in waves on t

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CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.

A GORGIO—COMFORTABLE BONDEGAARDS—MORE SPEILE—THE LOST KEY—DEN ASEN TOUJOURS—VEGETABLE SUBSTITUTE—THE GOODLO DISCUSSION—WIVES’ UTILITY—FRIENDLY PEASANTS—NORWEGIAN WALTZ—GIPSY CHAFF—THE DARK WOMAN—ANXIOUS QUERISTS—EARLY VISITORS—TIMID WOMAN—GIPSIES APPRECIATED—THE CHARMING POST-MISTRESS—THE MANSION NEAR HARPE BRÖ. No sooner had we unpacked, and our things were under our waterproof, than a gorgio was announced. As if by magic, a middle height, thick set man appeared through some birch-trees. He hes

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THE LITTLE GIPSY.

THE LITTLE GIPSY.

Two men with carts passed whilst we were resting, and they halted to look at our donkeys. It was nearly 2 o’clock, when myself and Noah went up to the wooden seat to load the animals. As we were standing by our things, a carriage passed, a gentleman driving with apparently his son, asked if we were going to camp there, we told him we were going on; He asked how many miles we travelled in a day, and we answered fourteen or fifteen. They wished us a pleasant excursion, we wished him bon voyage , a

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THE THREE GIPSIES.

THE THREE GIPSIES.

COLONEL SINCLAIR—QVAM CHURCH—DEATH OF SINCLAIR—MONSIEUR LE CAPITAINE—THE HIGHFLYER—THE HEDALS—ROMANTIC LEGEND—ANTIQUE MANSION—THE KRINGELEN—KIND RECEPTION—WARM WELCOME—THE BROKEN TENT-POLE—THE REINDEER HUNTER—THE RUDANE FJELDE—GIPSY-LOOKING WOMAN—MORE FISH—CHIROMANCY—ESMERALDA’S FORTUNE—THE HANDSOME CAPTAIN—HIS SPORTING ADVENTURE—ESMERALDA’S GIFT—OUR SOIRÉE DANSANTE—GIPSIES’ GLEE. The next morning was fine, but dull. We were up at half-past 1 o’clock, and decided to try the artificial minnow. Th

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ESMERALDA’S SONG.

ESMERALDA’S SONG.

We passed “Brœndhaugen,” having the Jetta Fjeld on our left and St. Kaven and Vesle Fjeld on our right. Two very civil peasants at length joined our party. The clouds seemed very wild and dark over the mountains of the Dovre Fjeld. At length we crossed a bridge near Dovre. The loose blocks of water-washed stones on our road towards the bridge added to the wildness of the evening scene. After some failures, we made the men understand that we wanted to find a shop to buy bread. When we had passed

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CHAPTER XVIII.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE NEW TENT POLE—WHAT IS INDIGESTION?—PEASANTS AT CAMP—A NEW FRIEND—HOLIAKER STATION—NORWEGIAN HONESTY—LŒSJE VAND—THE TETTERAMENGRY—AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY—THE GIPSY COLLAPSE—GOOD ADVICE—INTEREST IN DONKEYS—A MOUNTAIN DISTRICT—NO CHURCH BELLS—THE BOY’S QUESTIONS—THE KJÖLEN FJELDENE. The old man presently brought a new tent pole, for which we paid sixteen skillings. We had left Dombaas about half-past 5 o’clock. Our present camp was called by the people, “Losere.” A few peasants came to our tents, a

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SERENADE.

SERENADE.

ESMERALDA AT THE LAKE—OUR CADEAU—THE VISITORS—DISAPPOINTMENT—AN ADONIS—THE SILENT VISIT—THE OLD MILL—A NORWEGIAN FOX—THE PURU RAWNEE’S FALL—THE FOREST SCENE—ZACHARIAH’S TORMENT—UNDER DISCIPLINE—MUSIC IN THE FOREST—DISTANT ADMIRERS—THE ENGLISH HUNTER’S GIFT—OUR GIPSIES FISHING—THE MILITIA CAMP—SILENT VISITOR—ORNAMENTAL FLADBRÖD—A FOREST CONCERT. Some of the peasants, especially women, were most anxious to explore the hidden recesses of our tents, but this could not be permitted. Our gipsies were

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CHAPTER XX.

CHAPTER XX.

“There was a gipsy’s tent, close beside me, and a party of about ten of this wandering tribe were seated around a wood fire, which habit seemed to make them approach closely to, whether it was cold or hot weather.” Séñor Juan de Vega , the Spanish Minstrel of 1828-9. 55 NOAH UNWELL—THE TINE—NEW SCENES—THE LEPER—HASTY DEPARTURE—LESJEVŒRKS VAND—WELL MET—AGREEABLE WANDERERS—SPECIALTY OF TRAVEL—DELICIOUS TROUT—LAKE SCENERY—NORWEGIAN POSTMAN—NIGHT VISITORS—MORE TOURISTS—MOLMEN CHURCH. Immediately aft

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CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI.

If the gipsies are not the dispersed Egyptians, where are that scattered people? If the dispersed and scattered gipsies are not the descendants of the offending Egyptians, what are they? The Gipsies. By Samuel Roberts . THE RAUMA—A LOFTY CLIMB—MORE RAIN—THE FOREST WALK—TENT LIFE—PEASANT FÊTE—NORWEGIAN DANCING—ZACHARIAH’S RIDE—THE WOOD CARVINGS—A PSALMODION—STUEFLAATEN—THE ROMSDAL—MAGNIFICENT SCENERY—ENGLISH SPOKEN. Taking Noah down to the station, we purchased one mark of fladbröd, one mark of b

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CHAPTER XXII.

CHAPTER XXII.

“Commend me to gipsy life and hard living. Robust exercise, out-door life, and pleasant companions are sure to beget good dispositions, both of mind and body, and would create a stomach under the very ribs of death, capable of digesting a bar of pig iron.” George S. Phillips (January Searle). THE DONTIND—ORMEIN—MOUNTAIN ROAD—OUR BIVOUAC—DELIGHTED VISITOR—THE WATER ELF—EXCITED GIPSIES—TAGE EN STOL—NORWEGIAN GIRLS—SUNDAY ON THE RAUMA—CARRIOLE TRAVELLING—COMING TO GRIEF—“SPILLE” A LITTLE—ESMERALDA’

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TROLDTINDERNE,

TROLDTINDERNE,

They told us they were going to take steamer at Veblungsnœs, and passed us soon after we left Horgheim. As we followed the road round the base of the Romsdalshorn, we came to some waste ground open to the road, and partly covered with bushes. The donkeys were driven to a shady spot near a small stream of water. The Magician’s peaks rose immediately above us; at irregular intervals, we heard about its summits a noise like distant thunder, the sound was produced by falling masses of snow loosened

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CHAPTER XXIV.

CHAPTER XXIV.

“For the dance, no music can be better than that of a gipsy band; there is a life and animation in it which carries you away. If you have danced to it yourself, especially in a czardas, then to hear the stirring tones without involuntarily springing up, is, I assert, an absolute impossibility.” 64 Boner’s Transylvania . THE INVALID—RESTIVE DONKEYS—FIVA—AAK—VEBLUNGSNŒS—THE NORWEGIAN FARMER—THE GRASSY KNOLL—A NORWEGIAN TOWN—THE FJORD’S SHORE—THE VEBLUNGSNŒS’ BATHS—HERR SOLBERG—HOMME GALANT—MUSICAL

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CHAPTER XXV.

CHAPTER XXV.

Drama, of “Notre Dame.” By Halliday . PURCHASES—ZACHARIAH’S TROUBLE—ESMERALDA’S PHOTOGRAPH—THE KIÖD—PRICE OF MEAT—THE YACHTSMEN—THE THREE PEAKS—THE SPIRIT-WORLD—FROST BITES—ULTIMA THULE—ESMERALDA GALVANISED—THE FJORD—HEEN KIRKE—PARELIUS—EIDER DUCKS—BEAUTIFUL BOUQUETS. Our gipsies had breakfast ready soon after 7 o’clock, and taking Noah with us, we found Mr. L. at Veblungsnœs. With his assistance we obtained from an excellent general shop, the only one of the kind apparently in Veblungsnœs, two

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VEBLUNGSNŒS,

VEBLUNGSNŒS,

With what pleasure we looked forward to fresh scenes of travel and adventure in even wilder scenes of nature than those we had yet traversed. Those we had seen were very beautiful; each camp seemed to eclipse the last, in the beauty of its scenery. On those still clear Norwegian nights, full of mystic light, lovely in their starlight stillness, the mind seemed enthralled, in a thousand pleasing fancies; the music of the waterfall; the voices on the breeze. The melody of nature, produced impressi

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CHAPTER XXVII.

CHAPTER XXVII.

There is something remarkable in the eye of the Romany. Should his hair and complexion become as fair as those of the Swede or the Finn, and his jockey gait as grave and ceremonious as that of the native of Old Castile; were he dressed like a king, a priest, or a warrior, still would the Gitáno be detected in his eye, should it continue unchanged.... Its peculiarity consists chiefly in a strange, staring expression, which, to be understood, must be seen, and in a thin glaze which steals over it

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CHAPTER XXVIII.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

BOTANISING—ESMERALDA LOST—FOUND AGAIN—THE EAGLE—MOUNTAIN DIFFICULTIES—MOUNTAIN BIVOUAC—ESMERALDA ILL—OLE’S BED—HOTEL BILLS—ROUGH ROUTE—DONKEYS IN SNOW—THE PURU RAWNEE DOWN—THE NY SŒTER—GIPSY DISCUSSION—THE ENGLISHMAN’S HOUSE—HOSPITALITY—NORWEGIAN NAMES—FILLINGSHÖ—LARGE LAKE. No one was at the sœter. After a middags-mad of tea, bacon, potatoes, fladbröd and butter, and a rest, we continued our journey. After pursuing our rough mountain track for a short time, we left the forest of the steep mount

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CHAPTER XXIX.

CHAPTER XXIX.

The very look of each of them denotes strong talent; while in whatever they have undertaken to perform, they seem to have surpassed others, whilst they are at once unabashed and polite. It is true that they have not been tried in many things; but they are, it seems, the best fortune-tellers, the best singers, the best boxers, and, perhaps, the best doctors in the world.... They speak, too, the several languages of each country with much greater propriety than the lower ranks of natives themselve

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CHAPTER XXX.

CHAPTER XXX.

Your pulses are quickened to gipsy pitch; you are ready to make love and war, to heal and slay, to wander to the world’s end, to be outlawed and hunted down, to dare and do any thing for the sake of the sweet, untramelled life of the tent, the bright blue sky, the mountain air, the free savagedom, the joyous dance, the passionate friendship, the fiery love. Matilda Betham Edwards’s Through Spain . THE WASPS’ NEST—LOM—KIND FRIENDS—SONGS OF BJÖRNSEN—THE PRŒSTEN’S MINISTRATION—THE REPULSED STUDENT—

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CHAPTER XXXI.

CHAPTER XXXI.

It was the afternoon of the third day after the arrival of Cadurcis at the gipsy encampment, and nothing had yet occurred to make him repent his flight from the abbey, and the choice he had made. He had experienced nothing but kindness and hospitality, while the beautiful Beruna seemed quite content to pass her life in studying his amusement. Disraeli’s Venetia . THE REINDEER’S FATE—DESOLATE SCENE—SEVERAL ASCENTS—THE FRIGHTENED PEASANTS—A COAT LOST—ESMERALDA’S VIEWS—ABSENT TREASURES—OLE RE-ENGAG

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CHAPTER XXXII.

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE ELV SŒTER—A MOUNTAINEER—THE YTTERDAL SŒTER—TO MAKE GRÖD—THE GRÖD STICK—EVENING CONCERT—A WILD NIGHT—THE WATERFALL—MOUNTAIN GLACIERS—THE LERA ELV—CAMP BY A GLACIER—NOMADIC HAPPINESS—A GIPSY MÄELSTROM—INSECT LIFE. The wooden buildings are large and capacious and in good order, and one portion of the building was surmounted by a cupola, with a large bell to call the farm people to meals. We noticed two enormous pine-tree logs as we passed through the yard of the farm. Near a log hut, a short di

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CHAPTER XXXIII.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

“That the language of the Hindoos and that of the ancient Egyptians may have sprung from the same root is very probable; nay, it is almost certain. The language of the latter is a lost language, that of the gipsies a found one, claimed by and for no other people. All these things tend to confirm the surmise (may I say the fact?), that the gipsies are the long-dispersed Egyptians. To talk of their being Sondras (without showing a miraculous change of nature), would be as absurd as to affirm that

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CHAPTER XXXIV.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

As Cadurcis approached, he observed some low tents, and in a few minutes he was in the centre of an encampment of gipsies. He was for a moment somewhat dismayed; for he had been brought up with the usual terror of these wild people; nevertheless, he was not unequal to the occasion. He was surrounded in an instant, but only with women and children; for gipsy men never immediately appear. They smiled with their bright eyes, and the flames of the watch fire threw a lurid glow over their dark and fl

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CHAPTER XXXV.

CHAPTER XXXV.

“That gipsy grandmother has all the appearance of a sowanee” (sorceress).—“All the appearance of one!” said Antonio; “and is she not really one? She knows more crabbed things, and crabbed words than all the errate betwixt here and Catalonia; she has been amongst the wild Moors, and can make more drows, poisons, and philtres than any one alive. She once made a kind of paste, and persuaded me to taste, and shortly after I had done so, my soul departed from my body, and wandered through horrid fore

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CHAPTER XXXVI.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

The guitar is part and parcel of the Spaniard and his ballads; he slings it across his shoulder with a ribbon, as was depicted on the tombs of Egypt four thousand years ago. The performers seldom are very scientific musicians; they content themselves with striking the chords, sweeping the whole hand over the strings, or flourishing, and tapping the board with the thumb, at which they are very expert. Ford’s Spain . LAKE TYEN—THE TOURIST CLUB CHÂLET—LORTWICK SŒTER—LAKE DRIFTWOOD—A COLD MORNING—A

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CHAPTER XXXVII.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

The gipsies are not destitute of good qualities. They have a species of honour; so that, if trusted, they will not deceive or betray you. The Gipsies. By Samuel Roberts . CAMP ON LILLE MJÖSEN—THE SKJYRI FJELD—AN ACQUAINTANCE FROM EISBOD—CAMP RULES CONFIRMED—OUR GIPSY NOAH—ENGLISH SPOKEN—SINGULAR STONE—ILOE STATION—OUR FRIEND FROM EISBOD—ARTIST SOUVENIRS—ZACHARIAH’S SPORT—FAST TRAVELLING—HARVEST TIME—SECLUDED CAMP—ABLE PLEADING—THE STEE STATION—OBLIGING-HOSTESS—TETHER ROPE LOST—THE KINDLY WELCOME

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CHAPTER XXXVIII.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

AN ENGLISH FISHERMAN—THE HAUNTED MILL—THE TOURIST’S PURCHASE—NOAH’S GOOD FORTUNE—THE STRAND FJORD—A WOMAN’S CURIOSITY—THE HEROINE OF OUR BOOK—A NORWEGIAN SEAMAN—THE MISTAKEN MANSION—THE AURDAL CHURCH—FRYDENLAND STATION—A ROADSIDE HALT—THE APPRECIATED GIFT—THE SEVERE YOUNG LADY—THE KIND-HEARTED PEASANT—KRŒMMERMOEN—IMPULSE AND REASON. What delicious shade. Our water was soon boiling near the old mill. Our readers must not suppose the mill was a large one; it was about four times as large as a good

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CHAPTER XXXIX.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

THE GIPSY SIGNAL—OUR AUSTRALIAN MEAT—THE FAIR POETESS—OUR FRIEND FROM EISBOD ILL—THE RYE’S UNWELL—THE LEHNSMŒND OF BANG—THE FERRYMAN AND SON—WE CROSS THE BEINA—TATERSPROG—A KIND FAMILY—STORSVEEN STATION—SECLUDED VALLEY—A TOURIST LELS US—ESMERALDA’S ADVENTURE—THE PEASANT WOMEN’S SONG—SORUM STATION—TENTS PITCHED BY A LAGOON—NŒS—NO HORSEBOAT—IMPROMPTU HORSEBOAT—HOW WE GOT ACROSS—A RIVER SCENE. In a short time, Esmeralda and ourself slowly descended the steep winding road towards Krœmmermoen, as we

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CHAPTER XL.

CHAPTER XL.

They played on the guitar until the warm day had given place to the starry night. I sat on my balcony, and looked on with pleasure at the gaiety of youth. In Spain. Hans Christian Andersen. WE LEAVE THE BEINA—THE LILLE PIGE—ANY PORT IN A STORM—THE FAIRIES’ VISIT—THE SPIRILEN—YTRE AADALEN VAL—LARGE BONDEGAARD—HEEN WOODLAND CAMP—EVENING VISITORS—THE HÖNEFOS—INTELLIGENT POSTMASTER—NORDERHOUG CHURCH—HALT NEAR VIK—THE GIPSIES’ POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY—NOAH AND THE PHILANTHROPIST—STEENS FJORD—THE KROGKLEV

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CHAPTER XLI.

CHAPTER XLI.

“I fear, Colonel,” I replied, “that I must plead guilty to having been an associate of these gipsy vagabonds, and I may as well add that I have spent nearly all the summer with them, and found them pleasant, healthy, and instructive companions. I like the gipsies, and the wild life they live; and it is a pleasant occupation for me to study their manners, customs, traditions, and language.” George S. Phillips (January Searle). SUMMER WANING—NORWEGIAN SCENERY—SPLENDID VIEWS—THE CROSS FIRE—SORTE DÖ

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CHAPTER XLII.

CHAPTER XLII.

“The King of the Gipsies, or El Capitan as he is called, is a fine musician, and we invited him to come up to the hotel one evening to play to us. Captain Antonio’s company is not to be had for the asking.... It was a wretchedly poor instrument, and we began to wonder what sort of torments were about to be inflicted upon us, when on a sudden the tuning ceased, and the music seized hold of us like galvanism; for it was such music as one had never dreamed of before.” Matilda Betham Edwards’ Throug

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CHAPTER XLIII.

CHAPTER XLIII.

ALLURING PROMISES—COMPLIMENT TO ENGLISHMEN—TRUE SKETCHES OF GIPSY LIFE—THE GIPSIES’ ORIGIN—YET A MYSTERY—ESMERALDA—NOAH AND ZACHARIA—BEFORE THE CURTAIN—THE END. We have felt that the alluring promises of our fellow voyageurs must not be neglected. So many copies of this record of our wanderings already ordered. Even the Birmingham Bagman, of far-seeing speculative mind, had ordered two copies; this in itself would give confidence. What became of him we do not know. We trust he did not see fit to

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PRŒSTEN EILERT SUNDT’S WORKS ON THE NORWEGIAN GIPSIES.

PRŒSTEN EILERT SUNDT’S WORKS ON THE NORWEGIAN GIPSIES.

The very important works relating to the Norwegian gipsies which have been compiled and published for the Norwegian Government, by Prœsten Eilert Sundt, are peculiarly interesting, not only as affording the most recent and reliable information regarding this singular people, but from the many details and facts which are noted, as to their modes of life, language, religion, customs, and occupations. The first work, “Beretning om Fante-eller Landstrygerfolket i Norge,” published in Christiania in

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II.

II.

Tabulated Comparison of the Norwegian gipsy (Tatersprog), and the English gipsy (Romanes), showing the similarity of many words in the two languages, notwithstanding the early separation of this people, in detached hordes, in two distinct kingdoms. The foregoing comparison of the gipsy language (Romanes), as spoken by the Norwegian and English gipsies, will probably be sufficient to satisfy our reader that both languages are the same. Long as their separation has been, from whatever portion of t

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THE NORWEGIAN POET’S MORTGAGE OR PANTEBREV.

THE NORWEGIAN POET’S MORTGAGE OR PANTEBREV.

Læst, extraheret, og protokolleret ved Maanedsthinget for Vang og Slidre Thinglag den 16de December, 1868. Det bemærkes at Debitor ei erfares at have thinglæst Hjemmel paa Pantet, ligesom det ei kan erfares at være skydsat eller at henhöre under noget Brug, hvorfor nærværende Dokument er bleven extraheret paa Vangs Sameies Folium. For Thingl og Anm, 60—sexti skill. Engelschjön....

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TRANSLATION OF THE NORWEGIAN POET’S MORTGAGE, OR PANTEBREV.

TRANSLATION OF THE NORWEGIAN POET’S MORTGAGE, OR PANTEBREV.

Read, extracted, and protocolled at the Monthly Court for the district of Vang and Slidre, the 16th December, 1868. It is observed, that the debtor is not aware of having produced any proof of the mortgage; neither can it be ascertained that it has been taxed, or that it belongs to any custom, for which reason this document was extracted on the folio for joint ownership for Vang. For production and entry, 60—sixty skil. Engelschjön. We have thought it well to insert in the Appendix, the followin

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TRANSLATION.

TRANSLATION.

“To my great sorrow, I here learn that our Englishman, during my stay at Kolding, has left the corps, and gone to Norway, as if he had suddenly formed a wish to see it. As I consider his return very uncertain previous to the expiring of the armistice, or whether he will revisit Denmark at all; whether or no, I wish to mention the person who has supported our cause with such personal interest for more than half a year. When he first arrived, the Colonel asked him whether he would accompany the ar

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THE END.

THE END.

The following Works are advertised by the Author of “Tent Life in Norway” at his own expense, as either relating to the scenes of his travels, or to subjects connected with his book, or from a feeling of personal interest, and a wish to promote their authors’ success. HOW TO SEE NORWAY. By John R. Campbell . London: Longmans, Green &amp; Co. 1871. THE PLAYGROUND OF EUROPE. By Leslie Stephen , late President of the Alpine Club. London: Longmans, Green &amp; Co. , Paternoster Row. LAST RAM

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