«Fæstningsværker paa Larkullen» (Fortifications at Larkoul) av John William Edy (1760–1820) tegnet 1800, utgitt i Boydell's picturesque scenery of Norway i London 1820.
No. LXV. FORTIFICATIONS AT LARKOUL. From the present remains of these fortifications, it appears that they were originally of no great extent, but very strong, and well adapted for defence, and for the protection of the neighbouring inhabitants in case of need. They are situated on the top of the continental rocks, at the summit of a precipice, having within range of their guns the whole of the harbour, with its east and west entrances. The interior is a quadrangle, of which the area is about 400 square yards : it is encompassed by a wall, composed of large stones, 20 feet thick, well cemented with mortar, appear ing on the three sides next the country to have been 20 feet high ; on the outside there is a broad moat or ditch, at present nearly filled with the fragments of the dilapidated walls. A strong embankment of stones and earth, cannon proof, rises on the inside, to nearly the height of the ramparts. It has only one entrance, which is toward the village, as may in its mutilated state be seen like a gap through the wall, on the right of the picture. The angular wall on the foreground extends entirely along the verge of the precipice, exactly opposite the west entrance. Part of the harbour, and its east entrance, are seen at the low point of the rock over the three houses, beyond which is the Fiord, and the large Isthmus near Mos, from the point of which the ferry boat sails to the west of Norway, as already mentioned. I was surprised to find a place of such infinite importance, in so neglected a state, choaked up with rubbish, and the well filled with stones. There is no other harbour so safe on the Fiord when vessels have once entered, and a little repair of the works would render it untenable for an enemy. In one of the angles directly in front, is seen the entrance to a small vaulted chamber, with a remarkable perpendicular stone on its top, of which a poor aged misanthrope has taken possession. He is a cobbler by trade, and has bestowed great pains and labour on his retreat, to convert it into what he calls a dwelling which he has inhabited many years in solitary and miserable seclusion. On each side of a door of rough boards, an old broken glass casement, with rags stuffed between the leads, forms the window; in a corner is a heap of the dead leaves of the fir, which is used as a bed, over which an old piece of well-worn sailcloth, forms the coverlid; two large stones which fell from the roof have supplied chair and table ; a small hearth with a hole above it for a chimney, two crutches, a hatchet, and a clasp knife, make up the the rest of the accommodations. The wretched tenant carries his tattered wardrobe perpetually on his back, with belts, exactly according to the ancient Norwegian costume; his beard is perfectly white and long, his eyes are good, and his frame shews the remains of athletic strength ; he looks very like old Drakenberg, who lived to the great age of 146.1 Drakenberg was totally blind in the latter part of his life, and his age being doubted, he angrily travelled on foot, begging his way from Copenhagen to Drontheim and back again, to obtain the register of his nativity, and prove the fact. On his return, being vexed at the unbelief of his townsmen, he indignantly threw down the paper, with these emphatical words, "What do you think of me now?" 1.^ The portrait of this patriarch is in our possession, and he may be classed as the third old Man in Europe; viz. Jenkins 169; Parr, 152; Drakenberg, 146.