File:Town of Porsground (JW Edy plate 35).jpg

Much of the country between Brevig and Porsground is diversified with hill, dale, or woods, occasionally interspersed with small lakes, and bays connected with the Frith. Observing those perforated volcanic cinders, or stones, with many others, so nearly resembling ancient ruins of brickwork, as to deceive a nice observer, I wished much to ascertain exactly their extent and magnitude, but was prevented by the incessant ram, which rendered the mossy surface of the ground impassable. In these woods were several flocks of wild turkies, the black cock of the wood, of which a brief description may, I hope, be acceptable. In general it is about the size of the English hen turkey ; the full grown male is considerably larger, weighing twelve or fourteen pounds: the beak is large, and in form, like that of the pheasant; there is a bright red circle around the eyes; the neck is green, and the body very dark, with small white spots, not unlike those of the guinea hen; the legs are large and strong, feathered down to the feet. These birds inhabit the woods only, flying together in families of eight, ten, or twelve, subject to the absolute direction of the old male bird. It is indispensably necessary for the sportsman to kill this bird first, and when that is accomplished, the others are easily felled in succession, as they shew no inclination to quit the place where their parent or leader lost his life. If on the contrary he escape, a long and distant flight, with his obedient family, precludes every possibility of pursuit. A high mountain covered with woods and terminating on this side by an abrupt declivity, obliges the traveller to use much caution in descending ; he has to proceed down a narrow way, guarded by the rock on one side, and a hand-rail on the other, where the least neglect or carelessness would inevitable precipitate him several hundred yards, with the forfeiture of his life. A good road leads from its base, across an extensive plain, flanked with hills, and corn fields, and watered by a small river, meandering among the bushes, to Porsground. The town is most beautifully situated, in a highly fertile and picturesque part of Norway, embosomed with hills, divided by a navigable river of clear fresh water into two parts, called east and west Porsground, communicating with each other by a safe ferry. There is a church in each division. The great church as seen on the left side of the picture, is a well-built edifice of stone. The carpenters' work in the interior was executed by a Norwegian ; the roof, tower, and lofty spire, are sup posed to equal if not surpass any specimens of the kind extant, not excepting even the famous ceiling in the theatre at Oxford. The interior decorations and accommodations are well adapted to all requisite purposes. In the vaults beneath are railed inclosures, selected as family sepulchres, and respectively inscribed with names; they are about the size of a small room, in the center of which, is a small bier, supporting handsome black coffins, much decorated with large japanned wooden beads, hung in festoons around them ; within are the remains of the deceased, and on some of their tops, are smaller coffins, containing those of their children. The basement windows of the church admit much light, and the interstices between the deal railing encompassing each apartment, are sufficiently ample for inspection. This place of sepulture has altogether a becoming, solemn, yet unostentatious appearance ; it is perfectly clean, and neat, and by far the best of the kind I ever saw. Most others are subterranean dungeons; but this sanctuary is above ground. I wish all new churches and chapels were constructed on a similar plan. The pastors in the interior of Norway, readily spend the intervals of sacred duty, in giving advice in all litigations, while their wives administer medicines among the poor parishoners, deriving their knowledge, from medical books, given to them to consult; "There are sometimes three clergymen to a church, where the parish is large, and has many chapels." This sufficiently proves that Norway has ample sources of spiritual consolation.

These towns are well-peopled ; the inhabitants are tall of stature, well-made, brisk, active, and ingenious. The hair and eyes of a Norwegian, are of a lighter colour than those observable in most other nations; a dark complexion is uncommon here.

The towns contain many large houses owned by wealthy inhabitants ; there is also a degree of neatness in them, very creditable to their good housewives. The usual trade, that in timber, is carried on here to a considerable extent, and cargoes are rapidly collected from the inexhaustible forests in the vicinity. The Sheenfiord seen beyond the mouth of this river, extends to Brevig ; it is of very considerable breadth, and embellished with islands. Here the ships discharge their ballast; and receive their cargoes. The mountains in the back ground are on a grand scale, covered with forests of fir ; on one of them is a varde. The ship which is introduced, is supposed to be sailing from Sheen, to which the high road seen below, proceeds. A quick ascent from this road commencing at the bar, leads up a mountain of great elevation, from the summit of which a prodigious view presents itself. Such is the purity of the atmosphere, at this elevation, that the beholder sees distinctly with the naked eye, mountains an hundred miles distant, perhaps the Hardangerfield range; the whole intervening space is studded by innumerable others, on a smaller scale, with their attendant lakes, vallies, rivers, cascades and towns.

This view, for extent, and beauty, far exceeds that from the Paradise Hill near Dram. The view of Porsground is taken from the bottom of the hill above described.