New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-29


There were various small parties OF the nat'e
population at the Geysers during the day. but fewer
than might have been expected, even taking INTO
account the sparse settlement in this part OF lcelanu
They were coarse, solidly built figures the bodies
much longer than the legs, the HAIR thick a"u
blonde and the faces broad, weather-beaten, ana
apparently expressonless / saw half a dozen-four
men and two women-staDd vacantly grlnnlng III
the King as he passed them, and even when he po.
litely saluted them, the men hesitated, IN awkward
shyness. before they even touched their ha's'
Another. to whom lie was speaking I'D kindly man
ner with his hand upon the mans shoulder, sud
denly remembered that some mark OF respect was
necessary, and snatched off his hat with as much
haste "a if there had been hornet inside of it.
Among the people were several sick persons, who
had made long journeys in the hope of finding
physician in the Kings suite. Disappointed IN TINS
they turned to DR.. Hayes and our joval ReJkiavik
friend DIR. Hjatalin. The first case was man SUI
fering from Bright's disease, for which. unfortu-
nately we had no medicines. But the medicine
chest, when it was opened, attracted our Visitors
with a singular power. Men and women crowded
around gazing with eager interest and las 1t seemed
to MEL longing upon the bottles of pills and potlons.
| offered quinine pill to woman, and she in
stantly took and chewed it, without ever asking a
question. To confirm faith SO profound, felt
obliged to take two of the pills myself
Soon afterwards there came married couple, the
mother carrying baby which, as it needed but
glance to see, almost dying of Group. They had
carried the poor child horseback for five hours In
the hope of finding relief There was no time to be
lost; hot baths and poultices were ordered at the
byre near at hand, and in the mean time an opiate
was administered. The gasping and writing OF the
child was too much for those strong Ieelandic men,
III A. al, and holH
Zoega ran away IN one direction and Eyvindur In
another, crying like children, and the farmers
turned away their heads to hide their tears.
At the byre nothing could exceed the kindness OF
the farmers family-in fact of all who could help.
The Kings purveyor furnished white bread for
poultice; hot bath was made ready, and the father
stuffed the childs clothes into his bosom to keep
them warm for it. All night the people watched
with it, and the next morning everybody looked
happy on hearing that its condition had somewhat
improved
The next case was boy with hip disease, for whom
little could be done, though the Doctor constructed
a temporary support for his foot. The people In
varably asked how much they should pay, and
gratefully shook hands when paymentwas declined
made an effort to talk with a group OF farmers,
finding them ready enough, only little embarrassed
at the start but when i asked: do you know
Snmund's Edda 7" there was an instant flash and
flame in their faces and all shyness vanished. The
Nal and V0lsunga Sagas, SDorre Sturlusson, with
score of obscurer Sagas of which had never heard,
were eagerly mentioned and discussed 1t was re-
markable to see their full knowledge of Icelandic
literature and their vital interest in it.
"Do you know who first discovered America ~
l asked.
Eyes yes !" they all cried. in body; I" it was
Lott the SON of Erik the Red.
"When was it ~
about the year 1000. And there was Thorfnn
Karlsenne, who went afterward, and Thorwald.
They called the country Vlnland."
1--WE know it," said l. 81 am Vinlander."
They silently stretched out their hands and shook
mine An instinct of the true nature of the people
arose in me. Within an hour bad seen what ten
derness goodness, knowledge, and desire for knowl
edge are concealed under their rude apathetc ex-.
teriors To meet them was like being suddenly
pushed back to the thirteenth century for all the
rich. complex, later-deyeloped life of the race has
not vet touched them. More than ever regretted
nv ignorance of the language. without kno wing
which no stranger can possibly understand their
character.
At half-past four there came repetition OF
Geyser thumps, louder and more rapid than the
first time and at eight o'clock third manifesto
ton. We fondy hoped that these were signs OF IN
creased activity, which would soon bring about an
outburst. Our excitement increased to such an ex-
tent that although watches had been set for the
Kings sake, Messrs. Halsead, Hayes, and Gladstone
volunteered to keep Independent watch for us. The
two former passed half the night sitting the edge
of the Geyser-basin. They were once scared away
by thump which threatened to split the rocky
shell under their feet but nothing followed except
yio lant IF /
twice during the night. and waited vainly for
call the twilight bright that the spectacle
would have been visible at any hour-had it come.
The Festival at Thingvala obliged us all to leave
the next day. Just as the Kings tents were struck
the subterranean noises began once more; there
seemed malicious, tantalizing demon at work, to
excite and delude US. AS last compensation. an
other pile of sods was hurled into the Strokr, and
we all gathered about it. An English party had
arrived the day before and the artist Of The London
illustrated Ne,rs stood on mound, with pencil and
sketch-book, to record the result. We waited
quarter of an hour and nothing came; the King,
who had meanwhile joined our American party in
formed us that the Little Geyser would spout in a
few minutes. What authority he had do not
know, but it was bad; the Little Geyser kept as
quiet as lamb.
Half an hour passed, and the Strokr took not the
least notice of the irritation. The royal party
mounted, and rode away with many longing,
lingering lock behlnd-when. just as they were
passing out of sight around the corner Of the hill
and we were turning toward our tent. the Strokr
went off like q cannon. The wonderful, plumy
bursts were repeated, fol shorter s5at1s of time
than before, but equally lofty and violent.
1t seemed hard to leave the spot, for the day we
had spent there was perfect in its way. All after
noon there had been a lid of cloud over the sky.
lifted, sil around over an intensely clear horizon
The broad saddle backed top of Hekla cleaned re-
splendent in the level evening light - at