Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1981, Page 234

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Sambandið føroyinga og útlendinga millum
14) Yvirlitið hjá Øssurssyni (1963) hevur tíverri ongar upplýsingar um tjóðskap
prestanna. Tí ber ikki til beinleiðis við tí sum heimild at greiða henda spurning.
15) Hetta verður nevnt, tí at tað hevur týdning í øðrum sambandi. Ljósmóður-
viðurskiftini vóru vánalig. Óvanligt var, at tær høvdu lært burturi.
SUMMARY
With a view to nosographical studies a brief survey is attempted concerning the
intercourse of the Faroese with foreigners in the period 1273-1856. Founded on
critical studies of literature, one is compelled to assume that the Faroese them-
selves maintained the principal part of the maritime contact until the end of the
16th century. Up til 1619 the all-predominant part of the legitimate trade went
via Norway (Bergen), from 1620 to 1856 via Copenhagen. The extent of trade
connections with the British Isles and with Hamburg (Bremen) and Holland in
the 14th and 15th centuries is as yet undetermined. However, towards the end
of the 15th century a lively commercial connection existed with the above men-
tioned German cities and Holland. The myth of the Faroe Islands as a highly
isolated community can hardly be sustained, perhaps with the exception of the
second half of the 17th and part of the beginning of the 18th centuries.
Besides the legitimate trade connections there have been a multitude of other
contacts with foreigners.
Pirates attacked the Faroe Islands in the 16th and 17th centuries, and later
also privateers and freebooters, but any substantial communication with these
intruders hardly existed. Foreign fishermen have frequently fished near the Faroes.
Scotchmen and presumably also Frenchmen, at any rate during the latter half
of the 16th century, and Dutchmen from the latter third of the 17th century.
These foreigners have had close intercourse with the population, and the Faroese
themselves, no doubt, fished aboard some of the foreign vessels. By the end of
the 18th century some German boats worked near the Faroes, also with Faroese
people aboard. During the lst half of the 19th century numerous foreign ships
fished near the Faroes, as well British, French as Belgian.
Whaling, seemingly, did not bring about any considerable communication.
Smuggling did bring about close contact (with Germans at the end of the
16th century, and from the first half of the 17th century also with British and
Dutch besides Danes and Norwegians).
The connection with Holland was particularly frequent and regular during the
17th and lst half of the 18th centuries. Smuggling increased until 1856. Transit
trade (England/America) in Tórshavn 1768-88 brought about close contact with
foreigners. During the 17th century there were frequent visits by Danish/Nor-
wegian warships, and at that time and later by Dutch, French and British naval
vessels. After 1580 foreign officers were in command of the fortress of Tórs-
havn.