A compendious history of the Goths, Svvedes, & Vandals, and other northern nations written by Olaus Magnus.

CHAP. VI. Of the Crowned Rock, and the multitude of Fish.

THat no work of Nature may be concealed, it is here shewed that in the the Western Bothnia toward the utmost parts of the North, in the Parish of Lula, and Diocesse of Upsall, there is a Rock in the Sea, men call it common∣ly Bivra Klubben, which with its high top is seen by those that sail farr from it, to have three tops, or else to be round. And if the Inhabitants want the Aspect, shadow or harbour of it, who are most skillfull fishermen at Sea, their way would not be safe, nor could they find food convenient. For by the won∣derfull height of it, when a most thick darknesse of the Clowds rose, being seen in the middle of the waters (as I had tryal of it in the yeare, 1519) those that are out of their way are saved. For so great useth to be the obscurity of the darknesse and ayre condensed, that one that in a small Ship holds the fore-Castle, can scarce be discerned to the hinder Castle. But by applying to the shore, there is such an infinite multitude of fish to be seen at the foot of the Mountaine, here and there, that one is much amased to behold it, and is sati∣ated in his stomack by it. For part of this fish being sprinkled with Sea water in the plain at the foot of the Mountaine, and to be torrefied by the wind, is wont to be dispersed upon the earth for 2, or 3, Acres of ground: and part of them are put upon spears, and stretched upon the hatches of the Ship, especi∣ally the fishes of the greater kind, that they may be dried in the Sun and Aire.

But they are all kept either to spend in their Houses, or for to make profit of by Merchandise, and also for their necessities and pleasures beyond Seas, but chiefly that by bartering with them, they may provide themselves with plenty of Corn, (which doth slenderly grow ripe there, by reason of the cold round about) and that they may be able to afford them to Country people in place of dainties, and againe they may receive costly skins which are the Country wealth, in lieu of them. At the foot therefore of this Crown'd Mountaine, there ariseth a smell of fish hanged up, that such who at a long distance saile that way; can smell it coming to them. And when they perceive that smell, though they be tossed in a tempestuous dark night, they know how to preserve themselves and their goods from eminent Ship-wrack.