The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-10
Greuin9 Telrgrapt
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1854.
THE MOST NORTHERN town IN THE
KgnHT.D.

cliffs. 10 Is truly q barren spot though once 10 ls
said TO have been well wooded. As a CONNER
r,el mort. Hammcrfcst is Of some importance.
During the summer months, tho harbor is
crowded with Russian, English, French, and
o.hcr vessels. The principal trade consists Of
dried Goldfish, large quantity Of which is sent 20
tbe Mediterranean ports 10 be consumed by the
Roman Catholics of Southern Europe.
Were It not for the climatic influence that the
Gulf Steam exerts. Hammeriest, aud indeed
the whole northern parts Of the Scandinavian
peninsula, would he unnhabitable, and AS ice
bound as BoOthia Felix, Victoria Land, &C., and
those desoate regions in the other hemisphere
which lie under the same parallel Of latitude.
But A. Il Is, the sea never freezes along the whole
of the west coast of Norway icebergs are rarely
or never seen; and II is also owing to this that
the mean temperature in winter nc the North
Cane and az Chrstiania, though thirteen degrees
OF latitude lie between them, Is one and the same.
Agriculture, Of course, cannot be carried on -
any extent in the northern parts OF Norway, hut
sven at Hammeriest barley will ripcn, aud pOta-
toes will occasionally arrive at maturity. At
Alteu however which is six degrees 10 the sou n,
vegetable growth goes on with a rapidity which
ia duite marvellous "BIrley will grow two and
a half inches, and peas three inches in the
twenty. four hours and this for several consecu-
tive days." while turnips, radishes, and lettuce5
will grow everywhere, where human beings arc
n be found 10 cultivate them.
During the summer VIII ch may he rockOned to
latter part of August, the port Of Hammertest
presents q lively appearance. The weather then
Is intensely hot, for, as the sun never sets from
July 10 till August n, the earth and the air can
never become cool,
We would recommend the traveller who may
be bound for the far North, TO see the midnight
sun, or to place his foot on the extreme verge
upon the European continent, not TO forget to
bring with him a liberal supply OF eau de-
Cologne. ne will find II useful at Hammerest,
for the whole place rceks with fishy odor. There
is q tolerable hotel perhaps rather dear in its
charges,
a good deal of eider-down Is brought to Ham
meTfest for expectation, though not so much as
formerly, owing 10 the reckless way In which
these birds have been slaughtered The Nor
WePian Storthing has however, recently passed
q law to protect them. The eider-duck aDounds
along the whole coast Of Norway. Generally
speuking, they build their nests on the small
islands which fringe the coast, though they Will
often repair to the mainland, building close TO
the farm houses and hshermen'6 '6 huts, even under
the very dOUrsteps,
The best eider-down is taken from the nests
which the female bird has pucked from hel
own breast. This is termed Give down., il
Coutradistinction to the "dead down." which il
stripped off the dead bird. quarter OF cen
tury ago, it was by no means rarity for small
vessels to bring from five to six thousand pound
Of elder down to this port from Spitzbergen
The usual price for eider-dOwn in London il
about guinea the pound, but have bought II
direct from Hammertest at a0olt one quarter thC
price.
great quantity Of muter berries (RuOu!
ehamnmorus) is exported from Hammeriest
principally for the ChIistRnia market. Thes'
have much finer aroma than is the case Will
those that are grown in the southern parts of th'
country. To give some idea OF the importance II
which these fruit are held, t will be sufficient {,
mention that the Norwegian Storthing passed {
law in 1854 rendering any one amenaOle TO nn'
who plucked the berries on the "multer lands" II
Finmark and Nordland, unless TO cat on th
spot
we were there, barterins reindeer skins for tn
neCessaries of life, especially Tor brandy and TO
bacco They are queer little fellows most agree
able at distance. | am inclined TO think speal
feelingy for once had TO pass the night in
Iapp hut, having been overtaken by storm II
the interior of FinmRrken. That they neve
wash / need scarcely say, but they wear next IN
skin thick woollen jersey, which, feel conYince
Is only changed once, and chat is when 1t IS quit
worn cut, and has TO be replaced by Rnothei
IL will not therefore, be a matter of surprls
when / remark that found them very hyei
companions during the night.
1t Is strange phenomeuon; but never stlye
twenty-four hours in any place IN Norway Will
out having at least one invitation TO 60 alter
bear. Once, but only once, was fool enough
accept IL for after having lain dat on my st0mac
al night in close proximity 10 the putrd carcl
sfa horse, and getting nearly deyoured by mo
euitOts, and, Of course, seeing nothing, made
vow never 70 20 Dear-huntng any more. The
are, however several bears in tlnmarken, nv
IRpps, mostly in the winter time or early sprin
One day a LRpp woman went out TO fish on
lake, accompanied by her son, who was fourte'
wears old When they had caught q suthce
supply they landed on part of the shore wh
was thickly oyergTown with fir and underwOO
Presently the woman's quick eye fell on a lar
heap Of bOuRhs, reeds, moss, nc, and, on neal
inspection, she found a large hole underneath I
mass Of rubbish, and felt convinced II was {
entrance to bears ali" or cave. She wa
courageous and resoute little body, and nothi
daunted by the discovery, nor rejecting that
was alone, fastened back TO the boat to fetch
axe and rifle ttOr LGpp woman generally g
armed, and is usually an expert shot. Now
sisters IN other parts Of the civilized world wo
most probably have been frightened out OF tE
wits, and have beat speedy retreat under 81
circumstances. Her only anxiety was lest
bear should get of.
On returning, she proceeded 70 cut down su
Or sapling, which she pointed at one end,
gave IL 70 the boy 10 bradde about in the h0l(
ascertain whether i was occupied OF not WI
she stood with upiited axe a little on one 81
No sooner was the pole inserted than out came
head Of a mOnstrous she bear, and down CO
the axe on her skull with such force tina
remained sticking fast in The wound, and accI
panied Bruin as she TetTeated to the turthest
Of the cave. Time being up for round mum
two, and her opponent not putting in an app
anCe, she determined 10 try the effect Of 8
No sooner had she fired down the hole, than
bOted a cub about the size Of q sheep dog, wi
her son cleyerly managed 70 catch hold OF by
hind leg, But IL was too strong for the little
low, and, after dragging him tor some dista
managed to get away. Determined, hove
not 20 lOse him mother and son went in puri
snd speedily overlook the animal, which
taken 20 the water. A few well administered I
with the end Of the oar soon rendered him
DO combat.
Having secured him, the courageous Il
woman went back again TO the "Hi " and CAV
another stirring up. But all was still. Next
hred a second shot, but nothing moved. c
eludiDg that the bear must be dead or else j
escaped during her absence, she determined
dig her out work OF no small labor. SucS
however, attended her exerons, for at lei