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Fishmarket in Bergen
Ballantyne, R M, 1864, Photograph
Fishmarket in Bergen
Fishmarket in Bergen
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Category
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Item no
24806
Title
Fishmarket in Bergen
Artist / maker
Ballantyne, R M
Date
1864
Size
7.0 x 10.5 cm
Type
Photograph
Location
Edinburgh and Scottish Collection
In 'Chasing the Sun', R. M. Ballantyne's Norwegian adventure book, he brings the market in Bergen to life with his description of the daily event:
'Now, fish-markets are famous all the world over for noise, riot, and confusion. The fish-market of Bergen is no exception to the rule; but there is this peculiarity about it, that the sellers of fish are all men, and the buyers all women; moreover, the noise is all on the side of the buyers! The scene of the market is the pier, alongside of which the fishermen's boats are ranged; and here the fish are sold direct from the boats by the men to all the servant-girls of the town, who assemble each morning to purchase the day's dinner.
The men, standing in the boats, are considerably below the level of the pier, so that they have to look up at the girls, who look down at them with eager, anxious faces. The men, sure that their fish will be sold in the long-run, are quiet sedate, silent. The women, anxious to get good bargains and impatient to get home, bend forward, shouting, screaming, and flourishing arms, fists, and umbrellas. Every one carries an umbrella in Bergen, for that city is said to be the rainiest in the world. Of gay colours are these umbrellas too. Pink and sky-blue are not uncommon. There is a stout iron rail round the pier, which prevents the eager females from tumbling headlong into the boats. Over this they lean and bargain...'
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R M Ballantyne's 'Views of Norway'
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