The New York herald., 1874-08-01
them by the Norwegian kings but. the island hav.

A DREADFUL ERUPTION OF MOUNT HECLA.
the people submitted to Denmark on condition
that all law suits should be determined Dy their
own tribunals. and thai natives only should be
appointed to office. When Norway was wrested
rom Denmark In 1914 I'm consequence OF the SYM
pathy and ad extended by It's monarch to
Napoleon), ana given to Bernadotte for his assist
ance to the allies, Iceland was not transferred
along with it to the ruler OF Sweden. The native
Legislature or Althing, which had subsisted for
nearly nine hundred years. was suppressed in the
beginning OF the nineteenth century, but was
reorganized under q different model IN ls43. Ever
since that time the question as to the cOnstitu-
tiona and political position Of the island has been
the subject OF bitter and passionate contest, the
h ONE rule party claiming not only an lndepen-
dence, leaving to their sovereign very little but
the bare name, but also demanding considerable
financial subsidies from the national exchequer.
The new constitution settles this dispute to the
satisfaction Of all parties concerned.
DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY.
Iceland Qn native language Island) Is situate In
the northermost part OF the Atlantic on the con-
nnes OF the Arctic Ocean. 1t B in many respects
one OF the most interesting spots IN the world.
Its physical features are most remarkable. and not
less so are its history and the character OF its in
habitants. 1t lies at distance OF 600 miles from
divides it from the Farce Islands. Sixty hours
steaming takes vessel from Leith. in Scotland, to
Its principal 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 o dreary waste.
Only few level districts along the coast and
few daes, chiefly IN the south. are habitable or in
any degree capable Of cultivation, while even
there Is scarcely 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 in
stances descend even to the coast. They and the
torrents which gush from them render communi-
cation 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 perodi-
Cal intervals columns OF boiling water more than
ten feet in diameter and about 2co feet IN height,
preceded by loud report like that of artillery.
The Iceianders are the genuine descendants OF
THE OLD NORSEMEN,
who worshpped in days long gone by Odin and
Thor. The population Of their lce.bound land
once numbered 100, 900, but in consequence OF pes
thence, famine and the destruction caused by vol
canic eruptons at various times, 1t became con-
siderably reduced. Since 1910, when the census
showed 81 7,000 gradual increase has taken place,
until the inhabitants now exceed 10000. They are
distinguished for honesty, purity OF morals, won-
deriul love OF education, intense attachment to
country and sturdy spirit OF independence. The
men are tall, but not generally cOrpulent, with
fOrid expression, haxen hair and open, frank
COuntenances. The women are shorter and more
inclined to corpulence than the men, and certain
degree of beauty Is not rare among the girls. The
men are not noted for energy, IN TACT seem terri
bly, dlsncl,ned to engage at any vocation save
fishing. On the other hand, the women are re-
markable for their industry and devote themselves
to the performance OF work properly belonging to
their husbands, brothers and sons. Overtaxed
with domestic cares they go down to the
wharves when vessel comes in and by
hard labor earn enough to buy scanty
clothing for their children. They attend to the
cows, make the cheese. cut the hay, carry the
heavy burdens and perform manual labor gener.
ally. The women are not rated high IN the scale
of humanity in Iceland. Still, Overw0rked as they
are. the natural proclivities Of the sex are not
obliterated. In former times
THEIR COSTUME WAS PICTURESQUE
and becoming, and some traces OF the old style are
yet to be seen IN the pastoral districts. close
body, q jaunty little cap on the head with
heavy tassel ornamented with gold or silver bands
silver clasps to their belts and flagree buttons
down the front give them very pleasing appear
ance. or late years, however, fashion mas begun
to assert 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 occa-
eiOns of balls and parties a stranger would be sur
prised at the display OF beauty and taste. This is,
OF course almost confined to the weather classes,
composed principally OF Danish merchants and
their families. IL Is hardly necessary to add here.
that Tor many months of the year the sun Is never
seen, while during certain seasons the same lumi-
nary Is visible at midnight
THE CAPITAL.
ReykJavik, the capital OF Iceland, is situated ON
harbOr and lagoon in the rear. The population
ls about two thousand The houses are generally
one story nigh. and seldom contain more than two
or three rooms. The only stone building in the
place Is the cathedral, but the palace the Cover
nor and the university are not without pretensons
to style. The public library contains TO- 900 volumes
which will be considerably increased by the dona.
ton OF public documents recently sent from the
United States, but whether the gift will be interest
ing to the general reading public OF Reyklavik Is
another matter. The university and library attract
students rOm all parts ofthe island and several OF
ropean regulations. Three newspapers are pub
lished IN the town. line OF steamers plies be-
tween Reykiavik and Gopennagen carrying the
ernment. They make six trips year, ana touch
at the Farce Islands and at Leth in Scotland.
ACCOUNTS OF TRAVELLERS.
Iceland has not been favored with the visits OF
foreign travellers to any extent Ross Browne
formerly United states Minister to China, passed
a short time there in 1862. He described the huts
or houses IN which the natives live to be wretched
in the extreme. The general condition Of the peo.
pie he found TO be miserable, and that great room
existed for Improvement ana elevation. Mr..
Browne was treated with hospitality; but there
could be doubt as to the degradation and poverty
Of the inhabitants. much later writer, Mr.. James
Bryce, who has just returned from Iceland. con-
tributes to the COrnI,tU Magazine for June 1874
long and interesting article on the condition of
the island MIR. Bryce says:-"There are no trees,
though apparently there were plenty in the tenth
century, while we hear OF men hiding among them
and being hanged from them. No corn Is grown
nor any other crop, except a few turnips and pO-
tatOes, which taste only half ripe. The only wild
quadrupeds are the blue iOx-whO has probably
come, as the white bear now and then does, on ice
foes from Greenland-and the reindeer-the latter
about u century ago, and still unconl.
mon, ranging over
THE DESERT MOUNTAINS.
There is nOltown except the capital, no other
place deserving 10 be called even q village, unless