generally are; and might easily be confounded with the garnets, from their resemblance, in size, colour, and form. The geological features exhibited by the rocks at Gilljebek are indeed remarkable: the marble lies upon a stratum of granite, and beneath the granite occurs a schistose porphyry. This porphyry in several places rises to the surface; the basaltic hills near Drammen, mentioned by Linnæus as a species of trap, being composed of it. Many varieties of porphyry are found upon Paradise Hill; also red and grey granite; green-jasper, and ribbon-jasper; and red and yellow feldspar. In the pavement of the streets of Christiania, there had been found, by Dr. Müller, blocks of ribbon-jasper; but in our own observations upon the jasper found here, and also near Christiania, we should, in some instances, almost hesitate to consider it as jasper; that is to say, as a pure hydrate of silica. It seemed rather a kind of rock-flint, approaching in its degree of hardness to that of jasper, but having a more earthy fracture, and not being susceptible of so high a polish. The proportion of alumina in the stone seemed to be very considerable; and so it is indeed in some of the varieties of jasper said to have been analyzed by Kirwan' and Rose'; but the fact is, we (3) See Allan's Synoptic Tables, Tab. xxii. Edin. 1814. (4) Ibid. VOL. X. E E CHAP. VIII. VIII. CHAP. have no good analysis of the substance commonly called jasper; and hence the ambiguity attached to all the descriptions of this mineral. The name is sometimes applied to veined agate, a compound mineral consisting of chalcedony and quartz; sometimes to striped chalcedony; and even in some instances to greenstone trap, where the paste is fine, and the particles of this aggregate too minute to be discerned by the naked eye. Still more frequently has the name been applied to hornstone; especially when the layers of hornstone are of different colours, SO as to occasion the striped appearance which gives rise to the appellation of ribbonjasper. View from From Paradise Hill we had a delightful view of the whole of Leer Valley, with the towns of Tangen, Strömsoe, and Bragernes; which go under one common name of Drammen, owing to Drammen. the river Drammen, whereon these towns are situate. The descent upon Drammen, as it is thus called, may be reckoned among the finest things in Norway. To the right of the spectator rise mountains of basaltic porphyry; towards the left and in front extends a magnificent valley, combining almost every thing that nature and art can contribute to render such a prospect pleasing to the eye; upland and dale, and rocks and woods and water, decorating the smiling Arendal NB. The Orthography is here given from the large Danish Map publish'din also the Scale coincides; of twelve English Miles, to an Inch or1⁄2 of a degree of Lat 28 27 VIII. scenes of human industry, and appearing with CHAP. an aspect of greater cheerfulness, because garnished with many picturesque buildings, denoting a numerous and thriving population'. The people of Drammen are said to be richer than those of Christiania; but they lead a more private and retired life. The principal resident foreigners are from Holland; and these Dutch families may be considered as holding a station at Drammen similar to that of the English in Christiania. There are also some Italians settled here, who are in a flourishing way. The timber of Drammen does not find a market in England; the deal planks being short and bad: but it goes to Holland, and is there sold. We changed horses at Bragernæs, and came Hogsund. to Hogsund; having pursued our course through a populous and delightful valley, along the banks of the Drammen. The situation of Hogsund, on the river and near to a cataract which turns some saw-mills, gives it considerable beauty. The clouds were now low, and hung in various fantastic shapes upon the mountains. Hence the distance to Kongsberg is two Norwegian (1) "So thickly peopled," says Mr. Core, "that every fifty yards we observed a cottage, and for several miles together seemed to pass through a continued village."-Travels into Norway, vol. V. p. 232. Lond. 1791. |