The sun., 1881-11-20
SOME NEW BOOKS.
Du Cha,iiu in scandinavi~.


the Harpere. and entitled The Midnio'a iSttn
represent tho work Of seven years. SO long agt
as 1871 tho author. Mr.. PAUL u. DU CHAILLU
determined to make careful study OF tn,
Scandinavian peninsula. together with thu
adjoining and less known regions OF Jeplant
and Finland. and from that time to 1873 h,
undertook a series OF journeys which together
embraced sojourn in the country OF nearly
i've years. Before he eet out on those travels he
acquired some knowledge OF tho languages
spoken In the countries ne was about TO visit
and gave special attention not only to the history
OF the peninsula. but also to tho prehistoric
and Viking eras. on which much light has beeL
thrown by the recent researches OF archRolo-
gists. In other words. it was Mr.. Du Chailu's
Intention to write something more than n mess
narrative OF travel. TO produce a book which
should be an authoritative and exhaustive cX-
position OF its theme The result Ia not un-
worthy OF the authors aim. and OF the inde-
fatigabls labors given to its accomplishment.
The large materials amasscd by observation
and study have been thoroughly digcsted and
attractivelY arranged; and although the author
writes rather an Investigator than as q litera-
~ artist his dcton is clear and forcible. and
answers we'll its purpose of bringing facts dis
tinctly before the readers eve.
In tulee interesting chapters on the prehis-
torie and Viking ages OF Scandinavia, Mr.. Du
Chaillu has not only brought together in con-
else and effective way all that is thus far known
upon tho subject but he has verified or supple
mented tho conclusions Of specialists by his
own investigations. He seems to be OF the opin-
Ion that the stone age In Scandinavia lasted
down to a much later date than on tho continent
OF Europe. and that some OF the kitchen mid
dens should be referred to n time perhaps not
earlier than thres thousand yoars ago. We
pnt \. nj tbaCa t,ila nf itphn
refuse. like modern dust heaps. contain
all kinds Of household rubbish from which
we can form an idea Of the habits OF life among
the prehistoric inhabitants OF the North. These
heaps consist OF oyster anG mussel shells. bones
OF fish. birds. and mammals. such as the deer.
hog. beaver. seal. Ure OK. bear. fox. wolf. lynx.
marten. &c., with remains of clay vessels.
Among ami nehr these are found great numbers
OF rude implements and tools made OF flint.
bone. horn. and broken flint chips. also fire.
places made OF n few etones put roughly to-
gether. 1t is probable that in he early stone
age the people OF Scandinavia we,e exclusively
hunters and fishermen. but at later period.
when more finished stone tools aro found. do
mcstic animals had been introduced. as is shown
by tho bones OF cattle. horses. sheep. pigs. and
dogs discovered in tho graves. These sep
ulchres are classified in four groups-stone-
heap graves. passage or gallery graves free
standing stone collins. and stone collins covered
BY mound OF earth. The latter method OF i'm
murement WAS followed toward the close OF tho
stone age. and represents the transition to the
age OF bronze.
wo arc told that tho province OF West
Gothland is tho richest in relics from the
stone age; next como Skane. Bleking. Halland.
and the southwestern part OF Vcrmland. on
tho plain around Fahlkoping are still found. in
spito OF centuries Of cultivation. a larger num-
bor OF graves OF the stone age than aLywhcro
else. Rich in "reminiscences OF this era are
also certain parts OF Smaland. especially tho
western districts and that part Of tho in
terror around the largo lakes which.
through the rivers OF Bloking and Hal
land. are connected with the sea. Not single
grave OF the stone age has been found on tho
east coast. The scattered implements. more.
over. typical OF the oldest stone age. have near
ly all been obtained in skane. or in the imme-
dlate vicinity OF that province. All this seems
to show that Skane and the wost coast were first
occupied by the original inhabitants; that tho
population aierward spread gradually toward
the north and nc .theast. and entered the in-
terror by following the rivers and the shores
OF the largo lakes or the coast OF the
Baltic. 1t would follow that the earliest
settlers OF Scandinavia mus. have como from
tue south. or rather southwest-that Is. from
Denmark. This migration from the south
west is the more remarkable. inasmuch
as that from tbs southeast and the
regions 10 the eastward during the follow
Ing periods and up to the later centuries
has been OF go much moro importance 10 the
country. When II Ia remembered what i'm
portant parts Gland and Gothland played dur.
ing the iron age. it invites especia! attention
that the relics from tho stone age arc so rare
on these islands.
Mr.. Du CEaillu has no doubt thet the knoWl-
edge Of bronze working among the teople of
the Scandinavian peninsula came from TIE
south and the soulhsast. Many sewing itnrlo-
nents oi the bronze age-ne1dles. avis. email
pincers. and thin knives. almost always made
OF bronze. but sometimes OF gold-haye been
found in the grayes. Tne simple ornaments Of
the stone age were now replaced by more
beautiful and varied ones. principally OF gold
snd bTcnze. Amo nc these may be mentioned
Cladems. necklaces. bracelets. conts. and
buckles. In one mound belonging 10 the stone
age woo'len shawl was found. parts Of
which are now preserved in the Stock
holm Museum. The hequent appearance
OF swords or tho rock tracings shows that
these could not have besn made la the etone
ege. when the sword Was unknown. Ths yrip-
cipal arm Of defence was the shield. generally
made OF wood or leather. and orngneLted with
u tOuLu bronze p!alo WIN d point Ia tte lliul!e,
Vessels are sesn on most trseings belonsing to
:he bron-s ai.e. but their shapes are not tho
same in different provinces. 1t is also pointed
Out that during the later periods OF tie bronze
age the custom OF burning the dead was Intro
duced into Scandinavia. whereas the earlier
tombs the bodies are found unburns1. Thls
IS ohe Of the facts which point
TO rradua! TRANSMISSION OF Greek
or Roman civiiizstion through northern
Germany. No-o Or less cAteEs.ye atIemuts 70
dscipher the s'cantiEayiaa rock tracni.s nave
been made. but with 40 de-!dsd resu.ls.t DIt
wAile the symbols ere not yet Interpreted. the
pictures tell greg. deal about peaceGb.s cesu-
raticns ana deeis Vi war on land aed ssa
ofHh!eA nctAiag would otherwise Je known;
thoY tell VI asTlealIlre and catt.e ra.siny;uI
the uas o. the horse fcr driving Rnl rii.H-; q
Vessels and navigation Tor both tradiny elG
warlise purposes. showing that even at his
carly period the people undertook thoas voy-
ages TO foreign lands shieh. during tho YlA.aS
age. eulminatel in their famous e. Ipe1itiuns.
Ii was n the iron age wAich in Scandinavia