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REGNARD’s JOURNEY TO LAPLAND. 209
At length morning returned, the moft delightful I ever faw ; and having hung out
our flag, to fhew the danger we were in, they came from on fhore in wherries to find
us, and we were conducted into the city.
Dantzic js fituated on the Baltic Sea, at the mouth of the Viftula. The largeft
veflels come into the ftreets, which are cut into canals; the entrance to the harbouris
defended by an excellent citadel, which they call Mund. ‘This city is under the pro-
tection of the King of Poland ; but however oftentatioufly thefe gentlemen may talk of
their liberty, they have only the name of it, and their protector may, with juftice, be
confidered their mafter. ‘Vhey loft, four years ago, a number of their privileges, on
account of the conduct of one Doctor Stoff, who was the author of a kind of a fedition.
The King vifited them, and that he might chaftife the rebels, he fined them in large
fums of money. The burgo-matters gave him a Staro/fie, called Pofchi, which was en-
gaged for twenty thoufand ducats. ‘The King alfo ordered, that all law fuits refpe¢ting
fums above one thoufand livres, might be appealed to the court of Warfaw.
Dantzic is called Gedanum in Latin ; and the German word is dervived from the verb
dantzen, which fignifies, to dance. ‘The origin of this etymology is the following, a
number of peafants generally afflembled on the fpot where it is built, and intending to
build a town, they applied to the bifhop whofe property the ground was, for leave to
build houfes upon it, who gave them as much ground as they could encircle whilit
holding each other by the hand, and making a round in the form of a dance.
Dantzic pays about fixty thoufand crowns to the King of Poland. There are com-
miflaries appointed at the gates for the purpofe of dividing the cuftoms. The govern-
ment of the city is divided into three parts. The firft divifion confifts of four burgo-
matters, who are taken from the patrician families, and of thirteen councillors. The
burgo-mafters prefide one year each, after one another, and are, as well as the council-
lors, appointed for life: the fecond divifion confifts of twenty-four inferior magiftrates ;
and the third, of a hundred men.
The principal trade of this city isin corn, which comes down the Viftula from Poland,
and in wax, {fteel, and amber, which is collected on the fea-fhore from this place to
Memel. It is true, that this fifhery belongs to the Marquis of Brandenburg, who
farms it out for more than fixty thoufand crowns. When the wind is high, then is
the fifhery moft productive ; and at this time alfo, the guards and the farmers difcourfe
together, and ramble on the fhore with more exattnefs; and they are {tri€tly prohi-
bited, under pain of death, from purloining the fmalleft quantity. It is foft before it has
been expofed to the atmofphere, and witl take the impreflion of a feal ; there are many
pieces found with flies in them. I was aftonifhed, when I wastold, what a great traffic
is carried on in this fingle article; and as I make little ufe of it myfelf, I believe that
others confumed no more than me; but I learnt at the fame time, that the chief trade of
the Dutch to India confifts of amber, where they confume it greedily. A great Indian
lord will fometimes burn at one grand feaft, more than twenty thoufand crowns’ worth
of amber; and the odour of it is not only agreeable to the {mell, butis alfo very
medicinal, and ufeful in curing pains of the head.
Their traffic alfo confifts of afhes, honey, and litharge.
The fortifications of the city are very well kept in repair, and equally ferve to adorn
and defend it. ‘The gate called Hedor is a piece of excellent architecture ; and I have
never feen any thing better proportioned. We obferved in the city very fpacious
ftreets, which are, however, disfigured by the large balconies which occupy the halt of
them. ‘There is in the middle of the great fquare,a fountain which reprefents Nep-
tune, in bronze. ‘The houfes are very handfome, and well furnifhed.
VOL. I. EE The
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