Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-09-16
NOTES ABOUT ICELAND.
CUT FROM MURAT HALsTEAD's coRREs
PoNDENcE.

On stepping ashore the first thing
the geologist notices is the volcanic
character of every stone and pebble
and grain of sand. The beach is not
white. but black. The gravel on the
streets has the appearance of black
lead. The door steps are blocks OF
black lava, honeycombed by the in
tensity of the heat to which it has been
subjected. One who travels in Iceland
must know the pony-wiscly If not too
well-for be is the sole dependence on
the roads, which are mere pony paths.
There was a great lot of the little fol
lows in town yesterday They go
about in strings, a stout cord or small
rope fastening the lower jaw OF one to
the tail of the other. Thus half a doz-
en- are attached in line-and the farm
cr who has come to market trots home
ward on the foremost of his string OF
ponies. and the rest, tied tail to jaw,
with pack saddles piled with Gods
heads. or other merchandise, follow,
and keep step nicely. The prevailing
color among the ponies is sorrel-(they
are of all the horse colors though y
and they are distinguished byan abund-
ant growth of hair. 1t is not unusual
to see their tails clipped squnrcly to
prevent them dragging on the ground.
This abundance Of tail hair gives a
fastening for the useful rope that regu-
lates the next pony in order. A ques-
ton arose whether the little rascals
were shod, and an examination of their
feet answered il in the affirmative. |
speak of the ponies as small rascals,
but the term should be understood in
this case as one of endearment ]
think one might be justified in petting
neat and docile, long-tailed, sorrel,
Iceland pony. 1t is funny and admir-
able to see them rattle along with dain-
ty and nimblc steps over the everlast-
ing lava, swift and sure-footed under
burdens that would seem sufficient for
large horse-an animal, by the way,
that could not get along here at all.
was mistaken in assuming that
there was no road on the island. There
is one of three miles in length, leading
from Rekiavik toward the Gcysers,
and the people enjoy 1t so much that ]
wonder they do not extend il at least
a mile or two further, am able to
give in addition to this information
about the road the fhct that there is O
cart on the island. Yesterday saw
its track, and to-day ] saw the thing
itself
The King took ride of five miles
into the country yesterday and caught
salmon. The process Of fishing in
which he heindulgcd is not difficult. The
river flows in several channels over its
bed of lava, and is damned 80 that the
water runs into large boxes, and tum
bles through a hole in each box, max
ing n slight fall. The hole is guarded
on the inside agaist exits by long
converging sticks, and the adventurous
fish, swimming up the river, find the
little water fall flashing before them
and seeming to come from q pleasan,
pool above, jump II with force sufiicent
to plunge them into tho box and there
they are as safe as mice in trap int
which they have crawled through
sharp wires that yield them admission
readily, but forbid return. The salmon'i
well-known power and gamcness il
jumping water falls gives rise to thi'
contrvancc. The King caught the
salmon by inserting in the trap wher'
they were taken basket net on apol'
and scooping them out. In this way
ffiy-onc were captured during his visit !,
the largest weighing WE'VE pounu'