PREFACE,

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Page xiii

The Voyage-Stop a day at Elsinore-Elsinore Castle, Hamlet, and Shakspeare-

Independence Day" at Sea-Fourth of July Oration-Whales and Sharks-

Passengers, Live Stock, Books, and Amusements-the Meal Sack-Sea-Birds-

The Gannet, or Solan Goose-Land at Reykjavik

CHAPTER II.

Pages 1-13

Iceland, its Discovery and Settlement-Discovery and Settlement of Greenland and

North America by the Icelanders-Ericsson-Trading and Skirmishing between

the Icelanders and the North America Indians-Voyage of Columbus to Iceland-

Icelandic Congress, or Althing-Thingvalla, the Capital-Administration of the

Laws

.14-25

CHAPTER III.

Geographical Features of Iceland-Productions and Minerals-Character and

Literary Taste of the People-Wild and Domestic Animals-Exports and

Imports-Chief Towns-Habits of the Icelanders of Olden Time-Beards

CHAPTER IV.

26-35

Town of Reykjavik-Houses, Gardens, and Productions-A Ride in the Country

-Visit Hafnarfiorth-Preparations for a journey in the Interior-A Party of

Travellers-Face of the Country-Salmon-Fishing-A Tumble-Breakfast on the

Hill-side-Stop at a Hotel!-Splendid Scenery-Extraordinary Purity of the

Atmosphere-Almannagjá, or Chasm in the Rock-Arrive at Thingvalla-Trout-

Fishing on a large scale-Encamp for the Night

CHAPTER V.

36-47

Dining Out Many Tongues, but no Confusion-A Merry Dinner-Party-Angling
-Thingvalla, and place of Meeting of the Ancient Althing-Daring Act of a
Criminal-" If you Hang a Rogue, you must Catch him First"-Old Customs-

viii

Introduction of Christianity, and Fall of Idolatry-A Lacteal Disquisition-

Company Separate

Pages 48-55

CHAPTER VI.

56-59

Etymology of Icelandic Words-Similarity of the Icelandic and English-The Ice-

land Numerals-Counting-Geographical Terms

CHAPTER VII.

Journeying to the Eastward-A Forest-Blacksmithing-Game-Birds-the Ptar-

migan-Iceland Ladies on Horseback-Thingvalla Lake-Rough Travelling—

First View of Mount Hekla-Broad Valleys and Large Rivers-A Cave, and such

a Cave! Singular Cataract-Frail Bridge-Arrive at the Geysers

CHAPTER VIII.

60-68

The Great Geyser-Its Size and Appearance-Numerous Hot Springs in the Vicinity

-Springs of boiling Mud-Beautiful Coloured Clays-A seething Caldron-The

Little Geyser-Wait for an Eruption of the Great Geyser-Singular Warnings, or

Signal Guns-An Eruption--The Strokr, another Geyser-Forced Eruption of

the Strokr-Surtshellir, or the Devil's Cave-A Warm Bath-How to cook a

Dinner without Fire-Beautiful Birds-Termination of the "Show"

CHAPTER IX.

69-79

Journey towards Mount Hekla-Iceland Rivers-Haying-An Iceland Meadow-
How the Horses Live-Beautiful Birds-The Pochard-Playing Mazeppa-
80-87
Swimming a River on Horseback-A Hospitable Icelander-Herre Johann Briem
-Madame Pfeiffer

CHAPTER X.

Productions of Iceland-White Clover-A singular Ferry-Horses Swimming-
Sleeping Under the Bed-Sleeping in a Church-An Iceland Salute-Iceland
Horses-An Icelander with a Brick in his Hat-Boyish Sports-Rolling Stones
down Hill-" Guess " a certain Yankee had to pay for it, too

CHAPTER XI.

88-94

Ascent of Mount Hekla-Preparations and "Victualling" for the Trip-Mountain
Gorges-Hard Climbing for Ponies-Obliged to Dismount, and leave our Horses-
Streams of Lava-Smoke and Fire-Variegated Appearance and Colour of the
Lava-Almost an Accident-Up, up the Mountain-Hard Climbing-A Lonely
Flower on Mount Hekla-Beautiful Weather-Snow-Craters of the Late Erup-
tion-Fire and Brimstone-Awful Scene, and Dangerous Travelling-Arrive on the

Summit An Elevated Dinner-Boundless View from the Top-Descent into the

Large Crater-Ancient Snow Banks-Descent of the Mountain Pages 95-106

CHAPTER XII.

Volcanoes in Iceland-A Submarine Eruption-Awful Eruption of Skaptar Jokull

in 1783-Terrible Destruction of Life and Property-Details of the Eruption-A

River of Fire-"Fiske Vatn "-A Mountain Giant drinking up a Lake-Erup-

tions of Mount Hekla since the year 1000

107-113

CHAPTER XIII.

Pleasing Customs-" Son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people"

-Roses in Iceland-Fields of Beautiful Heath-Skarth-Crossing the Ferry—A

Lofty Cataract-The Westmann Islands-People on Volcanic Rocks, 3000 feet

above the Sea-One Half of the World never knows how the other Half lives-

Climbing Crags for Sea-Fowl-Islands plundered by Pirates
114-123

CHAPTER XIV.

Game-Birds of Iceland-Wild Reindeer-Ravens Skalholt-A Merry Sysselman

--Good Cheer in Prospect, "for he's a jolly good fellow!"-Took "a Horn," and

left

124-130

CHAPTER XV.

Stay at Hraungerthi-Rev. Mr. Thorarensen and Family-Christianity, Comfort,

and Refinement-Churchyard and Homes of the Dead-Gardening and Farming

in Iceland Iceland Hospitality
131-136

CHAPTER XVI.

Leave Hraungerthi-A Pretty Girl, and a Man not so Pretty-Crossing a Ferry-
The Reykir Springs-Singular Group of Boiling Fountains and Geysers-Nero
137-142

CHAPTER XVII.

An Icelander in a Warm Bath-A Churl-Not born to be Drowned-Vogsosar-

Rev. Mr. Jonson-Hospitality again-Drift-wood-Plum-pudding Stone-Arrive

at Krisuvik

143-148

CHAPTER XVIII.

Krisuvik-The Sulphur Mountains-Fire and Brimstone-Sulphur Mines-Jet of

Steam from a Hole in a Rock-A Mud Geyser-" Stones of Sulphur" 149-154

CHAPTER XIX.

Leave the Sulphur Mountains-Fun with Mr. Philmore-Stealing another Man's

Thunder-Up and Down Hills-A Horrible Road-Arrive at Hafnarfiorth—

Visit at Mr. Johnson's-Housefull of Pretty Girls-A Lady in a “fix” —A

Bachelor in the same-Girls Riding on Horseback-The Town and Harbour of

Hafnarfiorth-Journey to Reykjavik, and Cordial Reception Pages 155-162

CHAPTER XX.

Ornithology of Iceland-Eider-Ducks Half Domesticated, yet Wild-A Bird that

won't be Caught-Cormorants-The Gannet, or Solan Goose
163-169

CHAPTER XXI.

Snow-Birds-Gulls-The Iceland Gull-Skua Gull-The Great White Owl-The

Jer-Falcon, or Iceland Falcon-His Unequalled Velocity on the Wing-Falcon

of Henry IV. carrying the Mail from Paris to Malta-Trained Falcons 170-175

CHAPTER XXII,

The Faroe Isles-Little known to Modern Travellers-Majestic Scenery-Thors-

haven-The "Witch's Finger"-Men Climbing Crags-A terrible Chasm;

a Home for Sea-Fowl-Anecdote of Graba-Norwegian Collectors, and Faroese

Maidens

176-182

CHAPTER XXIII.

Northern Mythology-The Chaotic World, and Scandinavian idea of Creation-
Surtur and Surturbrand-Ymir-The Myth of the Ash-Mimir's Well--Odin,
Thor, and Baldur-Forseti, the God of Justice-Bragi, the God of Poetry-Frey
-Freyja, Heimdal and Hödur-The Goddesses, the Valkyrjor, and the Norns

183-191

CHAPTER XXIV.

Mythology of the Northmen, continued-Day and Night-The Earth, Sun, and

Moon-Loki, the Wolf Fenrir, the Midgard Serpent, and Tyr-Hela or Death-

Valhalla-Death of Baldur-Adventures of Thor with the Giants of Jötunheim

-Ragnarök

192-202

CHAPTER XXV.

Early Literature of the Icelanders-Eddas and Sagas-Manners and Customs of

the Period-Extracts from the Poetic Edda

. 203-212