Seals were formerly taken in the caverns which abound on the coasts in great numbers ; but they are either not so numerous now, or there is less inducement for their cap ture.
Thorshavn, the principal place in the country, is situate on the east side of Stromoe ; the houses being built on a narrow tongue of land jutting out into the sea. Two small creeks are thus formed, in either of which vessels may be safely moored, large iron rings being fixed in the rocks, on both sides, for that purpose. The houses are construct ed of wood, and crowded together without any regularity. The roofs are covered first with birch bark, brought from Norway, over which turf is laid. The green colour of the tops or the houses assimilating with that of the soil around the town, renders the place almost invisible from the sea, at a very short distance. The house of the commandant is the best furnished, but that of the lanqfoged, (who is here high sheriff as well as treasurer,) is the most spacious. Though the exterior of the buildings does not promise much, yet the rooms are generally neat and clean. The church is a large wooden edifice, covered with slate, and painted white. It has a small steeple, and altogether its appearance is very respectable. There are many large storehouses in different parts of the town, several of which are now locked up, on account of the almost total annihila tion of trade. The prison is a small wretched building of stone, in which those convicted of crimes, such as sheep stealing, are confined for several years. They are brought out occasionally, however, to work, when any thing parti cular is required to be clone. At the mouth of the har bour are the remains of a small but strong fort, the guns of which were destroyed in the year 1808.
The houses of the farmers and of the clergy are in gene ral good. In all of them the traveller will find himself hos pitably received, and accommodated with an apartment as neat and clean as he could desire, though not elegant. The hospitality of the poor Faroe'se is really remarkable ; the rea diness with which they produce their little stores to share them with a stranger ; their alacrity in complying with his wishes, and their anxiety to anticipate them, are, to a mind not altogether devoid of feeling, truly affecting. In their deportment they are exceedingly polite and respectful ; and the strict honesty which was experienced by the writer in numerous instances, during his intercourse' with the na tives, raised their moral character very high in his estima tion. To religious duties they pay the most regular atten tion. Almost every village has a church ; and when the priest is engaged elsewhere, or detained by the weather, the clerk reads the service. On the Sunday evenings, and on holidays, the people give themselves up to merriment. In fine weather, groups of them are seen in the fields, form ed into circles, moving round in slow cadence, (which they call dancing,) to a song in which sometimes 15 or 20 voices join. The subject of the song is usually some atchieve
merit of their forefathers, or the history of faithful lovers ; and the airs are wild and not without harmony ; they are, on such occasions, dressed in their gayest clothes, and they often continue for several hours, singing and dancing with scarcely any intermission.
Debes relates several superstitions which were prevalent in his time, but which are now exploded. Still, however, some remnants of credulity may be traced, and some per sons are to be found, who believe that they have seen the phantoms of people at a distance, at the moment they ex pired, and thus had notice of their death. In this respect the Faroese are not more superstitious than the common people in many districts of our own country.
Barley bread is that which is commonly used in Faroe, rye lacing imported in very small quantities; this, with milk or fat, constitute breakfast. In the autumn, when the lambs are slaughtered for drying, the blood is boiled with the milk. Dinner consists of fish and water gruel, improved by being boiled with bones or fat. Soup is sometimes made with fresh or dried meat, and turnip leaves. Dried lamb is eaten raw with tallow, and dried whale flesh is esteemed a delicacy. On holidays a large pot is placed on the fire, and a quantity of sea-birds boiled for supper. The quan tity of fat which these people devour, and the state in which the rest of their animal food is taken into the stomach, might be deemed unwholesome; yet diseases are not fre quent, the appearance of the inhabitants being every where robust and healthy ; the children, however, are generally puny looking, their legs being particularly slim. Fevers and rheumatism are the most common diseases, and Landt asserts that the stone is more frequent in Faroe than in other countries. The small-pox seldom visits Faroe ; and, at the present time there is not a native who has had the disease, except one who caught the infection in Denmark. Elephantiasis was formerly a prevalent disorder, and an hospital was established near Thorshavn for the reception of lepers. The remedies used by the natives are simple, and, as might be expected, harmless and ineffectual, such as soaking the parts affected in water, into which a piece of old gold or silver coin, or some ornament, is put, and decoc tions of various plants applied externally. The only sur gical operation performed is the extirpation of the uvula, when, from relaxation, it lengthens and obstructs the pas sage to the stomach and lungs. There is a surgeon esta blished at Thorshavn, with a salary from the Danish go vernment; but his skill is not much improved by practice.