PREFACE,

CONTENTS.

XIII

CHAPTER I.

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.

Page 17-32

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 American Indians-Voyage of Columbus to Iceland-

Icelandic Congress, or Althing-Thingvalla, the Capital-Ad-

ministration of the Laws,

33-47

CHAPTER III.

Geographical Features of Iceland-Productions and Minerals—

Character and Literary Taste of the People-Wild and Domes-

tic Animals-Exports and Imports-Chief Towns-Habits of

the Icelanders of Olden Time-Beards,

48-60

CHAPTER IV.

Town of Reykjavik-Houses, Gardens, and Productions-A Ride

in the Country-Visit Hafnarfiorth-Preparations for a Jour-

ney in the Interior-A Party of Travelers-Face of the Coun-

try-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,
61-75

CHAPTER V.

Dining Out-Many Tongues, but no Confusion-A Merry Dinner-

Party-Angling-Thingvalla, and place of Meeting of the An-

cient Althing-Daring Act of a Criminal-“If you Hang a

Rogue, you must Catch him First"-Old Customs-Introduction

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

Company Separate,
76-84

CHAPTER VI.

Etymology of Icelandic Words-Similarity of the Icelandic and

English-The Iceland Numerals Counting - Geographical

Terms,

85-88

CHAPTER VII.

Journeying to the Eastward-A Forest-Blacksmithing—Game-

Birds-The Ptarmigan-Iceland Ladies Riding Horseback-

Thingvalla Lake-Rough Traveling-First View of Mount

Hekla-Broad Valleys and Large Rivers-A Cave, and Such a

Cave! Singular Cataract-Frail Bridge-Arrive at the Gey-

CHAPTER VIII.

The Great Geyser-Its Size and Appearance-Numerous Hot Springs in the Vicinity-Springs of Boiling Mud-Beautiful Colored Clays-A Seething Cauldron-The Little GeyserWait for an Eruption of the Great Geyser-Singular Warnings, or Signal Guns-An Eruption-The Strokr, another GeyserForced 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," 100-113

CHAPTER IX.

Journey towards Mount Hekla-Iceland Rivers-Haying-An Iceland Meadow-How the Horses Live-Beautiful Birds-The Pochard-Playing Mazeppa-Swimming a River Horseback— -A Hospitable Icelander-Herre Johann Briem-Slanders and Falsehoods of Madame Pfeiffer,

114-123

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 1 rolled a Big One down-Guess it knocked the Stone Wall over-"Guess " a certain Yankee had to pay for it, too, 124-131

CHAPTER XI.

Ascent of Mount Hekla-Preparations and "Victualing" 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 Color 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 Eruption-Fire and Brimstone-Awful

Scene, and Dangerous Traveling-Arrive on the Summit-An

Elevated Dinner-Boundless View from the Top-Descent into

the Large Crater-Ancient Snow-Banks-Descent of the Mount-

ain,

132-146

CHAPTER XII.

Volcanoes in Iceland—A Submarine Eruption-Awful Eruption of

Skaptar Jokull in 1783-Terrible Destruction of Life and Prop-

erty-Details of the Eruption-A River of Fire-"Fiske Vatn "

-A Mountain Giant Drinking up a Lake-Eruptions of Mount

Hekla since the year 1000,

147-155

CHAPTER XIII.

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

ters of thy people "-Roses in Iceland-Fields of Beautiful

Heath Skarth-Crossing the Ferry-A Lofty Cataract-The

Westmann Islands-People on Volcanic Rocks, 3,000 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,

156-168

CHAPTER XIV.

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

Merry Sysselman-Good Cheer in Prospect, "for he's a jolly

good fellow!"-Finally concluded not to stay all night with

him-Took "a Horn," and left,

169-176