The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-08-29
The Journey from Reikiavik to
Thingvalla.
Lava Beds, Green, Grassy Meadows
and Peat Boys.
THE ICELANDER's LOVE OF HOME,
The Social ife of the Inhabitants
in the Interior.


where landed from the yacht Albion on the LAT
and from which place l maiied yesterday, via
Queenstown, dispatches written on board and in
Reikiavik, bringing the account OF the great MIL
lenn1al celebration up to Its conclusion omitted,
however, almost all details OF our travels or TO
mention incidental matters not connected mined
lately with the main business which had taken me
TO Iceland, thinking that IL would be more accept
able to have the business first and such descrip-
tons as have now TO give aferward
First however, have an explanation to make
with respect to part OF our programme. You
know it was announced as down in the Dill that
we were TO visit Mount Hecls and make some ex-
ploration OF that volcanic region. This proved to
be-under the peculiar circumstances OF our situa-
uon-quite impractlcable.
THE EXCITEMENT IN ICELAND.
IN our arrival In Reikiavik we found every
thing IN the greatest confusion. Nobody was
thinking OF anything but the milennial celebra-
ton and the Kings coming. All Iceland was
placed under requlsltion to supply the Kings
wants. This was chiefly in horses ana saddles,
one hundred and sixty being required
Tor the immediate use OF the Kings
stan, and more than twice that number as
pack-horses Tor the CARL ing Of stores OF every
kind to the place o. celebration at Thingvala. For,
understand, everything here is carried on the
backs OF horses or rather ponies, and, since good
deal Of lumber was needed at Thngvalla q great
many horses were required, and great deal OF
trouble was found IN transporting in this manner
the long boards aud poles needed for the tents.
Our intention had been to start for
the interior immediately on our arrival
in Retkiavik but not a horse was to be had for
love or money, and, worse than all, not the least
show OF attention. Everybody was working for
the King, anu nothing could induce them to give
fudo fhora ynrE
enough for them to do, considering their own
share in the great celebI alton OF which they were
all so proud, and o. the Kings share therein. To
add to the difficulty III procuring animals the peo-
pie were preparing to nock from all quarters to
Thingvalla, and were, therefore, unwilling to hire
out their horses needing them themselves
PRECIOUS TIME LOST.
So we lost several precious days. Horses were
coming in from Inherent parts OF the island, but
they were arriving slowly and were all for the King,
to be used for transportation between Reikiavik
and Thingvalla. lime passed, and now we had to
miss the Sunday celebrations at the church II we
started, when We mad at last secured our neces-
sary thirty thirty-two norses-and, indeed, with
less than that number one can hardly travel at
all. For instance, person on anything
OF q journey, requires pony Tor himself and each
of his two guides; then with one pony to carry the
tent, one Tor the tent furniture and two for pro-
visions makes seven, which being multiplied by
two makes fourteen. Two additional ponies
should have been added, IN case one OF the AMI
mails goes lame. Our party should have been sup
piled with forty at ieast but we were compelled
to cut down our stores and tent accommodations
and be thankful Tor what we could get. The
prices charged were more than double those Of
ordinary times. nave found the Icelanders
honest IN all the transactions have had with
them, and with no disposition to untaIrness; but
they only follow the rule observed all the world
over in business matters. which Is to put up the
price in proportion 70 the demand.
MOUNT HECLA UNLISTED.
nnish at once concerning Hecla. To 90 there
after the celebration at Thngvalla was not
to be thought OF, on my part at least.
unless l abandoned ell idea OF reporting the
millenntal celebration IN season to make 1t OF
any interest to tae public. The Kings snip
would sail Monday. Sac was to 60 direct to
Edinburgh. She lied fas er than the little Albion,
and would, OF course carry correspondence. 1t
was determined TO start from ReiKlavik as soon
as possible after the celebration, and mad no
alternative but to sal with the party, inasmuch as
there was no possible chance or writing up an &C
count OF IL before tue steamer left. Besides that,
had remained behind could not nave reached
London before the middle OF september. which
would not have sui ed me at ALL But, alter all, the
loss OF the experience IN not climbing Hecla Is
rather personal to rne than of public value, mas
much as it has been this season already climbed,
and pretty thoroughly explored.
1t has proved IN tbs last case to be an uncom.
Portable rather than a di1icult or dangerous task
The crater from which the last eruption took
place. in 1S45, Is reported to be manly filed ND
by falling pieces o. lava, and is quite extinct; nor
Is there any evid nee o. volcanic action anywhere
observable on the great mountain.
WE GET STARTED AT LAST.
Well we got OF a. last, as have said In my last
letter. Monday morning, August g. en- route for
Thingvalla and the Ccysers, to both OF which
places the King was going end there could, there
tore, be 10 risk OF our losing the celebration.
We presented a most singular spectacle as we
rode out Of town. First came our spare ponies
6lteen or sixteen IN humber, running loose ike Q
drove of cattle; then the i've pack horses with
their heavy burdens OF tents and stores, making q
great rattle as they trotted along; then
came the three guides, nourishing their
whips and shouting Loudly as the herd threatened
from time TO time to dart around corners and 20
back to the stables. Then came our own party Of
seven, which, together With the cook and steward
Anc the three gulues, made twelve persons in all;
and 1t was not oniy singular cavacade, but an
exceedingly amusing one. have before described
in q general way the Iceland pony, with hts great,
bushy name, sticking uo In the air as II the ami
NAL were an electrical receiver, and each individ-
val hair point OF discharge to the skies.
THE ICELAND PONIES.
These ponies are OF every color, from piebald,
black and white. or bay ana white. through all
the varying shades OF the average rainbow, to pure
white pure black. Irode one that was red and
white In about the proportions OF rst class Dutch
barn. Another was yellow with dash OF green
and indigo, while third was SO evenly divided
between black and white all the way through
that 1t seemed as If two horses had been split fore
and AFT and the wrong halves capped together BY
bungiing anatomlst. One bestrode q charger
white enough for any conquering hero. Another
was borne along on steed OF penslve mien and
creamy hue, most BETTING poet seeking some
new earthly paradise; and still another was finely
mounted on black aud white beast One In par.