New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-05
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A sITMNIER IN ICELAND.

Tho visit 70 Iceland of which this agreeaDle
volume contains the record, was MADE WIN VIC"
10 scientific research especially in the departments
Of geology and mineralogy i'll when inc country
OPENS rich field of observation to the intelligent eA
loror In nnrsnipq his travels however, the atten-
tion of the author was engaged by the remikapl'
scenery of Iceland the character and manners OF the
peope and the strange aspects Of their social ie OF
all which he has presented q series of animated ana
expressive pictures that evidently the frult OF
yigilant eye and a hand of ordinary hrmhesS auu
breadth Of touch.
His first impressions of Iceland were received on
landing at the port of ReykJavlk IN the sou'n"U''
part of the island at which place he aIilveu III .ho
month of MAY. 1865. This is small dusAy -iOoKIhg
town. rs you approach II rom the sea-
ewing TO a large proportion of the houses being
covered with n thick coat of tar The pilot and
hi, men who boarded the vessel on its entrance to
the harbor were dressed in a complete suit of dark
homespun CLOTH with round hats to which long zap
pets we're attached. and with goodnatured, inteih
gent faces. The situation of the town Is decdeuiy
picturesque on one side afiOrdine charming view
of the sea- while majestic mountain rises III the as
tant back ground. The houses are generaly small
wooden buildings of one story, with eaole ehus,
painted only the side toward the street. ana tareu
On the other Although the streets are not paved
they are dry and clean in Summer time as driving Is
q thing entirely unknown, and the only conveyance
u on horseback There are roads in the country.
and the bridlepaths constructed after the SIM
plest model.
The rural cottages in the neghborhood of Reyk-
teyik are chiefly built of earth, with turf roof
which in Summer time is so green that they can
scarcely be distinguished from the surrounding fields
The interior is low and dark forming but one ROOM
with floor. and no ceiling but the rafters whlch
sustain the roof Of turf In other parts Of the
~. 6 hill 70
The Icelandc dwellings Of the better class usually
consist of seven houses, six Of which at least have
only one ROOM while tho seventh, which is the fam
lily "keepng-rOom,D is divided into two or three
apartments by wooden partitions. The houses each
of which stands under its own roof, are arranged
side by side in row, with their gables IN front, and
connected by O common wall between two con-
tiguous houses. One Of the extreme buildings is the
eattle-shed where the cows are kept; the house at
the other extremity is the blaclsmiths shop. The
remaining houses are used dwellingrooms, dairy,
store rooms, Kitchen and for other domestic pur-
poses. Turf and the exCrcmentS of animals are the
common fuel. In the poorer districts, and especially
among the fishermen, even this fuel cannot be pro
cured and its place is supplied by the bones of fish
and of sheep, and dried seaweed. The gueSt-room
Is furnished with bed, table, and perhaps, few
chests which servo as chairs. but in the sleeping
room there is no furniture but beds, which
his meals sitting his bedstead with his plate or
porringer before him. The luxury of looking glasses
and chests of drawers is scarcely known.
Although Iceland took tho oath Of allegiance to
the King of Norway so long ago 1862, the country,
for not less than three hundred years. formed an in
dependent republic, and has not yet lost the repub-
lcan spirit. This is shown in the way in which the
Icelanders salute each other. Good day, cOmrade,
Is the usual greeting, which has touch of the
"citoyen" of modern republics. The title Here" or
sinister" is almost unknown in the island in cOnYcr-
satiOnal language. The peasants not only address
each other by the Christian name but the same
style in accosting persons of superior social rank
son one of my excursions from Reykjavik," says
The author, in which I made of q guide
the fellow asked ma my name. told him my sur
name but, remembering the custom, also Informed
him what my Christian name was. After we had been
riding along some distance and the previous CONVEX
sation had quite gone ont Of my head, presently
heard some one calling me by my Christian namo
from behind. Astounded at hearing myself thus ad-
dressed turned round, but did not at once dis
cover whence the voice proceeded, concluded was
smother Saul who heard voices from the heaven, till
at last my eyes fell on my companion, who was mys-
teriously pointing at large bird sitting by the road
side now recollected the conversation we had
held and regarded the honorable citOyen before
me with feeling of satisfaction, remarkng to my
self that now at least had come to a country where
the people looked on one another az brothers. But
though the ceanders regard each other as brethren,
and do not show much respect to rank. certainly
must compliment them their attentive and polite
behavior both and to each other The
Icelander for instance always takes his cap OFF when
he salutes any one, and not content with merely
touchng the peak, actually bares his head. L have
wondered much at this custom. and have thought
shat possibly it might be tho result of the conden
tial manner in which they kiss each other when they
meet, in which operation of the peak of the
cap the brim of the hat would be in the way. For
the lcelandic kiss Of welcome and farewell is no
empty ceremony it is given with warmth and
preston. and Is repeated two three times without
the least regard to age SEX or other ncompatbites
between the parties concerned But still this ex-
ternal pOteness appears to to be only the express
sion of the feelings, / have abandoned my theory,
and have arrived at the conclusion that the Iceland
ers are naturally polite, at least toward those
who are polite to them in turn. The every
day costume Of the women is extremely sim
pie 1t consists of tight-ftting, WOODEN knitted
bodice of dark color, with sleeves buttoned
ut the wrist, without any ornament, and a home
spun skirt The dark color is set off by striped or
eheckedapron, usually green red and the heads
asmall, black cap, fastened co0uettshy across the
temples and with long silver tassel attached by
gold or silver thread. The Icelandic women have
very thick and beautiful hair which they arrangeSin
graceful plaits. hanging Idown from the cap upon
their back. The author is not enthusiastic in
his praises Of the female beauty of Iceland.
Many dark brown eye and curling lock Of hair
may be seen peeping forth from beneath the cap;
still, the orn-golden' hair and tho azure-blue eye
which the old Sagas sing Of is the general type; and
Tins mink and white the in buas mn