The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-08-28
ICELAND
Interesting Account of the Home OF the
Vikings.

Vikings.
Iceland Is IN many respects one of
the most interesting spots Ia the world
1t lies at a 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. Its greatest length from east |
to west is 300 miles, and its 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 q dreary
waste. Only few level districts along
the coast, and few dales, chiefly in the
south, are inhabitable, or in any degree
capable of cultivation, while even there
is scarcely a tree to be seen. The rest
of the island is occupied with rugged
tracts of naked lava and other volcanic
productions vast ice fields in many
places connect its mountain SUBMITS,
among which 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 difficultand dangerous. There
are numerous boiling springs, such as
the geyseFs, in the southern district.
which throw up ut 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
worshlped in days long gone by, Odin
and Thor. The population of their ice
bound land once numbered 100, 600, but
n ,f
aud the destruction caused by volcanic
eruptions at various times, it became
considerably reduced. Since 1910, when
the census showed 81, 600, a gradual in
crease has taken place, until the inhabi-
tants now exceed 70, 900. 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 corpulent, with
Afford expression, haxen hair, and open,
frank countenances. The women are
shorter and more inclined TO corpulence
than the men, and a certain degIee 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
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 style
are yet to be seen in the pastoral dis
tricts. A close body, a jaunty little cap
on the head, with a heavy tassel orna-
mented with gold and silver bands, sill
yer clasps TO their belts, and flagree
buttons down the front, give them 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
gradually becoming modernized.
However, there is no lack 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 wealthier
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 a
lagoon in the rear. The population is
about 1000. The houses are gener-
ally one-story high, and seldom contain
more than two or three rooms. The on
" stone building in the place is the ca
uhedral, but the palace of the COVER
nor and the university are not without
pretcntiOns to style. The university
and library attract students from all
parts of the island, and several of the
professors md literary men have at
tanned European regulations. Three
newspapers are published in the town.
A line of steamers plies between Reyk-
javik and Copenhagen, carrying the
mails, and receives a subsidy from the
Danish government. They make six
trips a year and touch at the Farce is
lands and Leith, In Scotland.
The Icelanders delight in the study
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 cannot fur
nish examples of such intense and all
absorbing love of home and country.
The Lutheran clergymen are well-jn-
formed, simple in their manners and
jealous in their calling. They are paid
In kind by the people. Usually they
get a sheep, or an OK, or perhaps one of
those animals is taken when young, and
after being fattened by q member of the
congregation is returned to the pastor.
Schools are in all the settlements, and
rarely can native be found who can
nither read or write. The language of
the natives is distinct from that of the
modern Scandinavians. It Is. the old
Morse tongue and a national pride is
felt in its preservation.
The claim that an Icelander was the
first discoverer of America is not so
destitute of substantial grounds to rest
upon as many would be inclined to
think. They state very clearly and
infinitely that. in the wear 1902, Her
julf q descendant of Ingulf, a famous
navigator of that age), and his son
Bairf, both Icelanders, subsisted by
trading between Iceland and Norway.
and that In the latter country they
passed the winter seasons. At the close
of the year their vessels. as was the Gus
tom, were divided, and Bairf, sailing 70
Greenland, did not find his father. He
bad never visited Greenland before.
He steered westward for many days and
strange north wind bore him consid-
erably to the south After a long inter
val he arrived in sight of low woody
country, which, compared with the des-
criptiOn he had received of Greenland.
he was sure could not be that country.
Proceeding TO the southwest, he Joined
his father. The information that Bairf
gave Of this discovery. induced Iier-
who hR already discovered Greenland.
to equip vessel and proceed towards
the continent of America With thirty
five companions he sailed toward the
eorEh IN the direction indicated ~,