II.

resembles a fine lake. Arroe-sund, by the shore CHAP. of the strait called the Lesser Belt, consists only of a post-house, and a few cottages belonging to the mariners who navigate this passage.

sund.

At Arroe-sund, we were surprised to find two Arroeor three basaltic stones, lying among granite, porphyry, and other heterogeneous masses, used as Basalt. materials for the pavement of the pier. One of these stones was quadrangular, the edges and angles of the prism being as perfect as in the minutest crystal: it also exhibited, at its extremities, that alternation of a concave and convex surface which often characterizes the horizontal fissures of basalt rocks. We detached a fragment from this mass, and we have since analyzed it. It belongs to the same series of rocks which is found at the Giant's Causeway in Ireland, and in Staffa. Before the blow-pipe, it is easily fused into glass of a black colour. We supposed that it would be vain to inquire whence this basalt came; believing that it might have been used as ballast, by some of the numerous vessels that navigate the strait. Fortunately, however, there chanced to be at this time upon the pier an intelligent gentleman, a native of the country; who, seeing that we were busied in the examination of these stones, told us, that a range of basaltic pillars exists the shores of Jutland, in diffe

upon

II.

CHAP. rent places, and especially upon its north-eastern coast. This is very probable; and if it be true, it will assign a new locality for a species of rock which, although common in many parts of Europe, is rare in England; namely, that which is called Trap by the Swedes; consisting of hornblende, iron, and clay. But as trap belongs equally to the order of primary and of secondary rocks, so basalt may be found associated either with granite and clay-slate, or with secondary limestone and sandstone. This may satisfactorily account for such a deposit upon the coast of Jutland: but it must be further remarked, that we observed no mark of its existence upon the eastern coast of this peninsula. Having with us one of Ramsden's telescopes, as the vessel gently sailed in our passage to Assens in the isle of Funen, or Fyén, we endeavoured, but in vain, to discover some trace, at least, of these pretended phænomena. When we were landed at Assens', we again examined the nature of the stones used in the construction of the pier, but found nothing of a similar nature. The materials here were, granite, black limestone, porphyry, and quartz.

(1) Assens, Asnis, Ascens, introitui meridionali ejusdem freti, in litore occiduo, appositum oppidulum, haud procul remotum est à montibus illis, quibus Ochsenberg vel Ossenberg nomen est, rebus gestis diversorum bellorum famosis." Delicia Dania, Norvegiæ, &c. tom. II. p. 710. L.Bat. 1706.

II.

Lesser Belt

Assens.

The passage across the Lesser Belt is nine CHAP. English miles. We had gentle but favourable winds; and were landed at Assens within two hours after our departure from Arroe-sund. The Isle of Funen or Fionia, written Fyen, in Pontop- Fionia. pidan's Map, and to which island this place belongs, separates the Lesser from the Greater Belt, or strait: it is three hundred and forty miles in circumference; being low and sandy; but its surface, like the waves which have left it, rises and falls, in even undulant ridges and vales, with the most regular succession and uniformity. This island produces more grain than is required for the consumption of its inhabitants; annually exporting to Norway, barley, oats, rye, and pease. There seemed to be an abundance of cattle, and especially of sheep'; among which, foxes make. their occasional depredations. In proof of this,

(2) Signifying, literally, the same as our adjective fine; a name bestowed upon the island, on account of its beauty and excellence ; as we should say, Fine island. The word comes from the old Teutonie fijn; and this is thus explained by the author of the Delicia Daniæ:"Ipsi verò insula Fioniæ appellatio nata ab amœnitate tam situs, quam formæ, cum vernaculè loquentibus id nominis pulchrum, et amænum denotet." Delicia Danie, Norvegiæ, &c. tom. II. p. 702. L. Bat. 1706.

(3) "Pluribus naturæ dotibus excellens insula, proventu frumenti, siliginis præsertim, ac hordei, tain copioso affluit, ut etiam ad terras remotissimas frumenta sua quotannis transmittat. Numerosa boum, et præstantium equorum agmina taceo, quæ annuatim subministrat. Cervorum, capreolorum, leporum, ac vulpium venationes sunt frequenter in sylvis, quibus passim hæc insula inumbratur." Ibid.

may be mentioned the number of images dressed to serve as scares, which are placed in all pastures. Throughout Fionia we observed the Celtic tumuli before mentioned, particularly in the neighbourhood of its capital, Odensee, where they are most numerous. In our journey to Odensee, just before we reached the town, we saw, upon our left, another of those Cyclopéan monuments we have so recently described; consisting of a huge slab of granite, supported by four upright stones of smaller size. Odensee is said to be of such a high antiquity, that its origin has been attributed to Oden, the deified hero of Gothic Nations. But the fact is, that its more antient appellation was Ottensee, from which Odensee is a corrupted pronunciation'. It is called by Latin writers, OTTONIA. This place has preserved but few vestiges of any great antiquity; if we except

(1) See Pontanus (Chorographicâ Daniæ Descriptione, p. 721); also Delicia Daniæ, Norvegia, &c. tom. II. p. 705. L. Bat. 1706. "Rex Haraldus, à Cæsare Ottone I. ad fidem Christianam conversus, loci hujus conditor esse, et eum ab hujus benigni Cæsaris, qui etiam Suenonem regis filium, ideo Suenottonem appellatum, ex sacro baptismatis fonte suscepit, nomine OTTONIAM, in gratitudinis, et memoriæ signum, denominâsse creditur."

(2) "Ottonia, Ottonium, Ottenses, Ottensche, Odensee, FIONIE insula civitas primaria, episcoporumque sedes, situ amœno, et structurâ eleganti gaudens, meditullium occupat insulæ, ad fluvium, qui sub eâ in sinum se effundit, a Septentrione versus meridiem profundè in terram penetrans." Delicia Dania, Norvegia, &c. tom. II. p. 704. L. Bat. 1706.

Mr. Coxe mentions the tombs of

11.

the rude monuments and tumuli in its vicinity, CHAP. which, being Celtic, existed long before its foundation as an Episcopal See. The Cathedral, a Cathedral. large, old, brick building, contains nothing remarkable. John King of Denmark, and of his Son, the cruel and unfortunate Christian the Second, as being in the church which formerly belonged to the Convent of the Recolets. We inquired in vain for the place of Christian's interment. No person knew any thing of it; but the sexton of the Cathedral, determined, at all events, to gratify our curiosity, pointed out a square slab of black marble, in one of the aisles, covered with unknown characters; and maintained that this stone covered his grave. Possibly this may have been the tomb of Canute, styled "the Beloved of God and Men," in the old Scandinavian Chronicles. Ottensee, or OTTONIA, is mentioned early in those Chronicles; and it is there recorded, that a church was founded by Canute, Church of brother of Harald, in the eleventh century, to preserve the relics of St. Alban, which that prince removed from England'. This happened in 1080.

(3) Haraldo Danorum regi vitam terminanti, successit Canutus frater, Deo, hominibusque princeps dilectus, qui mox translatis ex Anglia reliquiis S. Albani, magnificum Ottoniæ templum fundatum illi dedicavit." Messenii Scondia Illustrata, tom. I. p. 90. Stockholmiæ, 1700.

St. Alban.