Cash
for this purpose, they gave, besides money, six silver cups, six forks, and
six spoons, with some other articles of small value, which they had saved
from the wreck, as girdles and rings. The greater part of these things fell
into the hands of the rascally priest; who, that nothing might be left to
them of this unfortunate voyage, did not scruple to exact these as his due
for having acted as their interpreter. On the day of their departure, all
the inhabitants of Rostoe made them presents of fish; and on taking leave,
both the inhabitants and the strangers shed tears. The priest, however,
accompanied them to Bergen, to pay a visit to his archbishop, and to give
him a part of the booty.
[1] Rost, or Rostoy. - Forst.
[2] The small island of Rust probably the one in question, is the
south-westernmost of the Loffoden isles of Norway, in lat. 67 deg.. 80 N.
long. 11 deg.. E. and is about 80 statute miles from the nearest land of
the continent of Norway to the east. The rest of the Loffoden islands
are of considerable size, and are divided from Norway by the
Westfiord, which grows considerably narrower as it advances to the
north-east. - E.
[3] The Cod or Gadus Morrhua, is termed stock-fish when dried without
salt. - E.
[4] This must have appeared a most wonderful reliance upon female chastity,
in the opinion of jealous Italians, unaccustomed to the pure morals of
the north. - E.
[5] This custom of promiscuous bathing is very ancient, and existed among
the Romans, from whom it was learnt by the Greeks, but gave rise to
such shameful lewdness, that it was prohibited by Hadrian and
Antoninus. This law seems to have fallen into oblivion, as even the
Christians in after times fell into the practice, and gave occasion to
many decrees of councils and synods for its prohibition; yet with
little effect, as even priests and monks bathed promiscuously along
with the women. Justinian, in his 117th novel, among the lawful causes
of divorce, mentions a married woman bathing along with men, unless
with the permission of her husband. Russia probably adopted bathing
from Constantinople along with Christianity, and in that country
promiscuous bathing still continues; and they likewise use a bundle of
herbs or rods, as mentioned in the text, for rubbing their bodies.
- Forst.
Norway certainly did not learn the practice of bathing either from
Rome or Constantinople. Some learned men are never content unless they
can deduce the most ordinary practices from classical authority, as in
the above note by Mr Forster. - E.
[6] The Norwegians call this species of sea fowl Maase; which is probably
the Larus Candidus; a new species, named in the voyage of Captain
Phipps, afterwards Lord Mulgrave, Larus eburneus, from being
perfectly white.
