The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1874-08-28
ICELAND.
Interesting Account of the Home OF the
Vikings.

Iceland is in many respects one of
the most interesting spots 10 the world.
Tt lies at distance of 600 miles from
Norway, $50 miles from Greenland, an
equal space divides it from the Farce
islands. Sixty hours steaming takes a
vessel from Leith, Scotland, to its prin-
cipal city. It's greatest length from east
to west is 800 miles, and it's greatest
breadth from north to south about 200.
Iceland consists in great part of lofty
mountains, many of which are active
volcanoes. The interior is a dreary
waste. Only few level districts along
the coast, and a few dales, chiefly in the
south. are inhabitable, or in any degree
capable of cultivation, while even there
Is scsrcely tree to be seen. The rest
Of the island is occupied with rugged
aetS 2f ms 10 vast ice fields in many
places connect its mountain SUBMITS,
amongwhi prOdigious glaciers in some
instances descend even to the coast.
They and the torrents which gush from
them render communication between
one inhabited patch of land and another
extremely difficult and dangerous. There
are numerous boiling springs, such as
the geysers, in the southern district,
which throw up at periodical intervals
columns of boiling water more than ten
feet IN diameter and about 200 feet in
height, preceded by loud report like
that of artillery.
The Islanders are the genuine de-
scendants of the old Nolsemen, who
worshiped in days long gone by. Odin
and Thor. The population of their ice
bound land once numbered 100, 600. but
in consequence of pestilenee, famine
aad the destruction caused bv volcanic
eruptions at various times, it became
considerably reduced. Since 1910, when
the census showed 81, 600, gradual in
crease has taken place, until the inhabi-
tants now exceed 10000. They are dis
tinguished for honesty, purity of morals,
wonderful love OF education, intense
attachment to country, and a hardy
spirit of independence. The men are
tall, but not generally eorpulent, with
aficrid EXPIRE ssion, faxen hair, and open,
frank countenances. The women are
shorter and more inclined to corpulence
than the men, and a certain deglee of
beauty is not rare among the girls. The
men are not noted for energy, in fact.
seem terribly disinclined to engage in
any vocation save fishing. On the other
hand, the women are remarkable for
their industry, ard devote themselves
TO the perfOrmation of work properly
belonging to their husbands, brothers
and sons. Still, overworked as they
are, the natural proclivities of the sex
are not obliterated. In former times
their costume was picturesque and be-
coming, and some traces of the old stvIe
are yet to be seen IN the pastoral dis
tricts. close body, iaunty little cap
on the head, with heavy tassel orna-
mented with gold and silver bands, sill
yer clasps to their belts, and filagree
buttons down the front, give them a very
pleasing appearance. OF late years.
however, fashion has asserted its sway,
and even IN this comparatively unknown
part OF the globe, the native costume is
46afalaIAanff Is no afcE OF refined
society IN the island. There are many !
families as cultivated in manners as can |
be found IN any part of the world, and |
on occasions of balls and parties a /
stranger would be surprised at the dis |
play OF beauty and taste. This is. of /
course, almost confined to the weather. |
classes, composed principally of Danish !
merchants and their families.
Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. is |
situated on the southwest coast, on a |
strip OF land between the harbor and |
lagoon IN the rear. The Formulation is |
about 1000. The houses are oener- |
ally one-story high, and seldom contain |
more than two or three rooms. The on |
ly stone building in the place is the ca
thedral, but the palace of the COVER /
nor and the university are not without |
pretentlons to style. The university
and library attract students from ali /
parts of the island, and several of the /
professors snd literary men have at |
tanned European regulations. Three /
newspapers are published in the town.
line OF steamers plies between Reyk-
IaVIk and Copenhagen, carrying the
malls, and receives a subsidy from the
DANISH government. They make six
trips year and touch at the Farce is
lands and Leith, in Scotland.
The Icelanders delight in the studv
OF the history of their dreary country
as set forth In ancient poems, and their
passionate devotion to their homes
seems almost inconceivable. The most
favored nation of the earth canEot fur
nlsh examples of such intense and all
absorbing love of home and country.
The Lutheran clergvmen are welI-in-
formed, simple In their manners and
jealous in their calling. They are paid
In kind by the people. Usually thew
get sheep, or an OK, or perhaps one of
those animals is taken when Young. and
after being fattened by a member Of the
Is returned to the pastor.
Schools are In all the settlements, and
rarely can native be found who can
nlther read or write. The language of
the natives is distinct from that of the
modern Scandinavians. 1t is the old
Morse tongue and a national pride is [
felt In its preservation.
The claim that an Icelander was the :
irst discoverer of America is not so
of substantial grounds to rest s
,pon as many would be inclined to y
PINK They state very clearly and v
uiff "a Descendants Of InguIf, famous 4
navigator of that age), and his son I
Bairf, both Icelanders, subsisted by '
rading between Iceland and Norway, @
md that in the latter country they 7
passed the winter seasons. At the close i
IF the year their vessels. as was the GUS c
;om, were divided, and Bairf, sailing to t
did not find his father. He
had never visited Greenland before. I
He steered westward for many days and {
4 strange north wind bore him consid- 8
srably TO the south. After long inter {
val he arrived in sight of low woody I
country, which, compared with the des-
,ription he had received of Greenland,
ne was sure could not be that country.
TO the southwest, he joined
his father. The information that Bairf
gave of this discovery induced Lier,
20 equip vessel and proceed towards I
he continent of America. With thirty !
i've companions he sailed toward the s
south in the direction indicated by {
Bairf. Arriving at fiat, strong coast, {
With mountains covered with snow, Wis a
BILE at great distance, they called it Il
Halluland. Proceeding still south. d
hese adventurous Icelanders came to a t
country of more attractive appearance. d
From the pretty full description given i
{ was probably Nova Scotia. They 4
'alled it MARYLAND. A brisk north wind 5
blowing for two days brought them to q
iner country, woody and undulatipg 4
md Astounding with natural products. ],
They were unable to find a port new o
.rtheless they landed, as there was an 1
abundance of fish In the river which I
lowed into a bay. They 'ventured to 4
PASS the winter there. This country !,
hey called Vineland or Wineland. +
they found the nights and days less 3
than.in Iceland or Norway. On h
he shoi Test day of the year December
21st), they noticed that the sun rose at