New-York tribune., 1874-08-19
ON THE WAY TO ICELAND.
THE KING OF DENMARK AT THE FARCE
ISLANDS.

/
| MASTER OF THoRsHAvS-THE KING AT CHURCH
sERvICE-A CONGREGATION oDoIOUs OF FISH
AND LEATHER.
(FRoM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUFEI
THoRsHAvN, Farce Islands, July 26.-Yesterday
l could only think Of Longfellow's stanza:
From the tumbling SUR, that bures
The Orkneyan skerries
| Answering the hoarse Hebrides;
From the wrecks Of chips. and drifting
spars. uplifting
On the desolate rainy seas
There was no night, but dull Northern twilight
which increased rather than frightened INTO
somber. moist, chilly day. An uneasy made our
little steamer rock and ROLL and there was no sail TO
be seen anywhere So passed the hours until four in
the afternoon, when far ahead high mountain isIe
with sheer Sides showed its head above the msts
which still concealed its base. Presently our left
the long of Suderoe the southernmost island of
the group, became visible, and it was evident that
the lofty peak in front was the Little Diamond.
Beyond it lies the Great Diamond, rock nearly
mile in diameter, and with sea-wall Of cliff GER
talnly not less than 500 feet in hight.
Passing showers hid these grand shores and drove
ms from deck for an hour two, but the sky cleared
little toward evening enabling to the out
| lines of StrOmOe. the main island on which lies
Thorshavn, the capital and Naalsoe which protects
its harbor on the east. Here all things are n
| grand and impressive scale. The mountains rise TO
the hight of 1900 feet, and the iords by which tho
| islands are indented resemble those Of Norway in
their bold and savage character. In fact the Faroes
seem to have drfted away from Northern Norway
and been anchored here in milder and moister
| climate.
| On approaching Tborshavn two Danish men-of-
| war showed themselves through the mist. The
royal standard floating at the stern showed that
had Overtaken His Majesty. Christian X. on his
way to Iceland. 1t was nearly o'clock, and cloud
and twilight combined dimmed the picture Of tho
town yet its roofs of grassy turf bespangled
| with the white cross of Denmark lts red field
that the effect something like that of an illu-
mination.
| Our boats were lowered rs the anchor
| held and we made for the shore. The town covers
a narrow tongue of land between two small bays.
Huge masses of rock line the shore and prop tho
most of the houses, which are crowded together as
if trying to keep warm. There or two small
and rude landing places and at one of them group
of friendly FarOese assisted to get ashore. Blond
and ruddy, with Phrygan caps on their heads, knee
breeches with rows of silver buttons at the knees
brown stockings over powerful calves, and heavy
wooden pattens on their feet, saying God dfien !"
| Good evening" with tone which made 1t sound
| like welcome w-they were all Norsemen, and cap
| ital specimens of the race. The town, which has
| about thousand inhabitants. was crowded with
| people, many having come from other parts OF the
islands, for the king, learned had been expected
the day before but had only landed at o'clock that
afternoon. The men looked at us with some curos-
ty possibly supposing us to be delayed part of the
royal suite. There was nothing intrusive in their
ways all greeted us, lifting their caps, but not
| even the boys followed our steps.
There no streets. properly speaking, but
multitude Of irregular lines, winding and climbing
among the houses some roughly paved some lead
ing over the natural rock. The houses are all Of
wood tarred for better preservation, with roofs Of
birch bark upon which is sod a foot thick always
kept green and luxuriant by this moist. temperate
air. The poorer dwellings, into which glanced
we passed. are often but single room. in which tho
whole family cooks. eats and sleeps.
Wandering at random, descended into a shall
low ravino down which small brook. born among
the inland fells trickles over the rocks. 1T is
nearly dried up," said Faroese answer TO my
question 1--WE have had two months Of warm, dry
weather this Summer" The road leading to tho
Governors house. on knoll above, had been freshly
strewn with flowers following the trace of which
downward we came to a triumphal arch or MOSES
and ferns, with the word "Nelkommen" on tho
side toward the sea. Here the King had landed and
been officially received. First the Governor, Herr
Finsen made loyal and'dutiful address, then Herr
Raasl6v, the Burgomaster of Thorshavn. followed,
but at the conclusion of his speech he fell suddenly
TO the earth-and died The event was tragic
rather than ominous for the unfortunate Birgonas-
ter had been both unwell and excited for some days
previous.
We visited the Postmaster and arranged for the
forwarding of our letters then returned on board 10
Sleep The King and Prince Waldemar were tho
Governors guests, and every tolerabe house in the
place was occupied with civil and naval officers.
At ten o'clock it was still daylight.
This morning Thsrshavn looked its best and
brightest Every farmer and fisherman wore bis Sum
day dress looked fresh and clean and had gloss on
his curling yellow locks. The houses were decorated
with strings of fish, hung up to dry, winch impaired
their odors to the air. Passing the Governors house
noticed large gray cat waiting her chance to SEQ
the King. as the old proverb gave her the liberty.
His Majesty was at breakfast, and everything was
quiet about the house. We went to the top Of hill
behind the fort, whence there was a good view of
the country. The gay flags waving from every ver-
dant roof the decorated vessels in the hsrbor, and
the CLEAN of flowers from small but ovInglytended
gardens made much brightness that We no longer
missed the sum- Fields of grass, oats aud potatoes.
inclosed BY stone walls. stretched for "A mile or two
back of the town then rose a sennciIc.c Of dark
gray mountains their crcsts playing hide ana seek
with the rolling mists.
We visited the Post-Oflice the School, aud varions
other places but there were Danish guests at all,
and everybody was at breakfast. AT Ii We went to
church. neat white building, large enough 10 ac-
commodate 500 persons The clergyman, Herr Ham
mersheim who has done excellent service in col
lecting aud preserving the folklore Of the Farce
Islands. kindly ordered the sacrisian to give Ms q
pew. The people focked in until all the seats wero