Littell's Living Age/Volume 171/Issue 2214/The Frisians

The Frisians. — At first sight, it may seem strange that, with all the wide world to choose from, any class of people should prefer to live on these sandbanks in the midst of a stormy ocean, only able to gain a bare livelihood, and at all times liable to he swept away by the sea, which from the earliest times has destroyed so many of their race. But love of country is among the Frisians a passion. In their eyes there is no land like Friesland, and the fairest portions of the world cannot in Frisian estimation rank alongside their barren sandy islands. Hence, when the storm of 1634 subsided, the greater number of the survivors returned and again settled on what portions of their country had escaped the ravages of the winter. Pellworm and Norstrand were dyked, but the settlers on the little Hallige were too few and too poor to build walls against the sea. Hence they had to do the best they could to provide against being surprised by the rising tide. The expedient they adopted was to raise in the centre of each islet a mound of clay and stones, about fifteen or sixteen feet above the level of the island, and on this elevation to erect their houses. These werfts are accordingly the only places used for houses on the Hallige, the rest of the island being left for grass. On some of the werfts there are as many as fifteen houses, a church, and even a graveyard. But on other of the islands only one family can find subsistence, and of course in these cases there is only one house on the werft. Even in the larger islets, where there are several families living, most of them prefer, as a precaution, to have their houses erected on separate werfts. Indeed, co-operation is strange to the Frisian' character. They are not exactly selfish, but they can never combine for the public good. They are always afraid of expending labor or money on what some one else may possibly reap greater advantages from than themselves. The Halliger does not, however, depend altogether on his werft for safety. Experience tells him that sometimes the tide flows so high as not only to cover the islet, but even to rise above the werft. Accordingly, he builds his house in two flats, each semi-detached. The ground floor is of brick, and is divided into parts by a central passage. On one side the family lives; on the other the sheep and the cow, which form their main livelihood, are sheltered. The upper story or “lofts" is supported on piles driven into the ground inside the brick walls of the lower story, the whole being enclosed by walls of reeds, clay, and boards. Accordingly, if the flood rises over the werft, and enters the ground floor of the houses, the Halligers retreat to the upper story, drawing up after them their cows and sheep. If the tide destroys the lower story, there is still the independent loft raised on piles to depend on; and if the worst comes to the worst, and the whole building is destroyed, then the lone householder takes to his boat and endeavors to escape to the mainland or to one of the dyked islets. In such a case, however, the boat is not often of avail. For when the storm is so fierce as to destroy the house, it is rarely that the tiny skiff can live in such a sea. Death is then the Halliger’s lot, as it has been from time immemorial the frequent fate of his forefathers. However, if he escapes, he invariably returns and builds his house again. But if the werft is also destroyed, the islesman loses heart, and hesitating to face the toil of rearing the mole anew, with a sore heart seeks a new home on another of his beloved Friesischen Uthlande.