s
contrivance, and have to stretch your feet forward. You are then buckled
in with a leather apron as high as the hips, and must remain in this
position, without moving a limb, from the beginning to the end of your
ride. A board is hung on behind the box for the coachman; and from this
perch he, in a kneeling or standing position, directs the horses, unless
the temporary resident of the box should prefer to take the reins
himself. As it is very unpleasant to hear the quivering of the reins on
one side and the smacking of the whip on the other, every one, men and
women, can drive. Besides these carriols, there are phaetons, droschkas,
but no closed vehicles.

The carts which are used for the transport of beer are of a very peculiar
construction. The consumption of beer in Christiania is very great, and
it is at once bottled when made, and not sold in casks. The carts for
the transport of these bottles consist of roomy covered boxes a foot and
a half high, which are divided into partitions like a cellaret, in which
many bottles can be easily and safely transported from one part to
another.

Another species of basket, which the servants use to carry such articles
as are damp or dirty, and which my readers will excuse my describing, is
made of fine white tin, and provided with a handle. Straw baskets are
only used for bread, and for dry and clean provisions.

There are no public gardens or assemblies in Christiania, but numerous
promenades; indeed, every road from the town leads to the most beautiful
scenery, and every hill in the neighbourhood affords the most delightful
prospects.

Ladegardoen is the only spot which is often resorted to by the citizens
by carriage or on foot. It affords many and splendid views of the sea
and its islands, of the surrounding mountains, valleys, and pine and fir
groves. The majority of the country-houses are built here. They are
generally small, but pretty, and surrounded by flower-gardens and
orchards. While there, I seemed to be far in the south, so green and
verdant was the scenery. The corn-fields alone betrayed the north. Not
that the corn was poor; on the contrary, I found many ears bending to the
ground under their weight; but now, towards the end of August, most of it
was standing uncut in the fields.

Near the town stands a pine-grove, from which one has splendid views; two
monuments are raised in it, but neither of them are of importance: one is
raised to the mem