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"KERGUELEN’s VOYAGE TO THE NORTH. 76¢
Berghen formerly had the privilege of coining; this fhe retained until 1575. As
yet there is preferved in the cabinet of medals at Copenhagen, one which was {truck
here in the reign of Eric. The city was built in 1070 and 1071. Several councils have
been held here. As the greateft part of Berghen is built of wood, this town has fre-
quently beena prey to the flames: it was burnt in 1248; eleven churches were reduced
to afhes : the fame misfortune happened to it in 1472, in 1623, in 1640, in 1702, and
in 1756; at this laft fire fixteen hundred houfes were deftroyed. The city is very
extenfive. The ftreets are not ftraight, and are irregularly paved with large and finall
ftones, but are kept very clean. The houfes, although built of wood, afford a very
pleafing appearance, from the diverfity of colours with which they are painted: they
are extremely pretty within; no gold or filver is feen, but the furniture is neat, and
agreeably fimple.
The city of Berghen may contain three thoufand houfes, and more than twenty thou-
fand inhabitants: the inhabitants of Hamburg, Lubeck, and Bremen, annually refort
there for the fifhery.
The religion of the country is Lutheran, of the creed of Augfburg, known in Ger-
many by the title of Evangelical ; it is the religion of the fovereign, and prevails through
all the poffeffions of the King of Denmark. All other religions are tolerated (but with-
out allowance of public worthip), provided they do not difturb the commonweal. Every
inhabitant, whatever may be his religion, or ftation in life, enjoys equally the protection
ofthe government ; no one undergoes vexation for confcience fake.
As to the manners of the inhabitants of Berghen, it is difficult to fatisfy the reader on
that article, for it is compofed of different nations; many Germans and Scotch have
fucceflively come to eftablifh themfelves here, arfd intermarried with the natives: in ge-
neral the men are ftrong and robutt, little polifhed, although affable to ftrangers from
intereft. ‘There is but little nobility at Berghen ; moft of the inhabitants are merchants
or tradefmen, dealing by wholelale or retail. ‘There are however fome diftinguifhed
families, but they are very few in number.
The women are in general fond of work ; they employ themfelves in their houfehold
affairs, and in commerce; they are not addicted to luxury ; they receive f{trangers, to
whom they are partial, with courtefy, and particularly the French, who are very wel-
come vifitants ; which occafions on the part of the hufbands a great jealoufy of them.
The Norwegian women are handfome, but not well informed: more politenefs is met
with in other parts of Norway, but throughout the country Bacchus and Ceres find
more votaries among the men than Venus. They are fond of {pirits, and fmoak a great
deal. They make up affemblies, confifting wholly of men, and prefer them, which
they call eaminet, to the fociety of the ladies ; this engages thenrin turn to revenge
themfelves without ceremony, by the help of more amiable and gallant ftrangers.
The garrifon of Berghen is compofed of one battalion of regular troops, one free
company of one hundred and fifty men, and a fmall detachment of artillery, making
together fix hundred men.
‘The commerce of the city of Berghen confifts ofall forts of fith, fat merchandize,
fkins,and wood. ‘Thefe commodities are produced in the provinces north of Berghen.
The haven is fafe and good, and can hold a large number of veffels of every dimenfion.
It has an additional advantage of never freezing, and being always navigable. ‘Ihe
burghers of Berghen have about eighty veffels employed in external commerce, and
with which they trade through the ocean, in the Mediterranean, in the North fea, and
in the Baltic. Befides, upwards of one thoufand veffels of different nations arrive there,
bringing falt, grain, flour, brandy, and other commodities. They alfo fend feveral
10 veflels
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