The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-09-03
ICELAND.
Interesting Account OF the Home OF the
Vikings.

1celand IS IN many respects one of
the most interesting spots Ia the world.
1t hes at distance of GOO miles from
Norway, $50 miles from Greenland, an
equal space divides it from the Farce
islands. Sixty hours steaminR takes a
vessel from Leith, Scotland, to its prin.
cipal city. It's 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 a dreary
waste. Only few level districts along
the coast, and a few dales, chiefly in the
south, are inhabitable, or in any degree
capable of cultivation, while even there
is scarcely n 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 geysers, in the southern district,
which throw up at 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
worshiped in days long gone by, Odin
aud Thor. The population of their ice
bound land once numbered 100, 600, but
In consequence of pestilence, famine
and the destruction caused by volcanic
-
considerably reduced. Since 1910, when
the census showed 81, 600, a gradual in
crease has taken place, until the inhabi-
tants now exceed 10000. They are dis
tlnguished for honesty, purity of morals,
wonderful love of education, intense
attachment to country, and q hardy
spirit OF independence. The men are
tall, but not generally corpulent, with
ahorid expression, haxen hair, and omen.
frank countenances. The women are
shorter and more inclined TO corpulence
than the men, and certain deg1ee of
beauty is not rare among the girls. The
men arc 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
thelr industry, ard devote themselves
TO the performation of work rroperIv
belonging to their husbands. brothers
and sons. Still, overworked as thew
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
trlcts. close body, a jaunty little cap
on the head, with heavy tassel orna-
mented with gold and silver bands. sill
yer clasps to their belts, and ilarree
buttons down the front, give them Very
pleasing appearance. OF late wears
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
De 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 weather.
classes, composed principally of Danish
merchants and their families.
keyklavik, the capital of Iceland. ia
situated on the southwest coast. on n
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
ly stone building in the place is the ca
thedral, but the palace of the COVER
nor and the university are not without
pretGntlons to style. The university
and library attract students from ali
parts of the island, and several of the
professors ind 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 year and touch at the Farce is
lands and Leith, in Scotland.
The lcelanders 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 canrot fur.
hish examples of such intense and all.
absorbing love of home and country.
The Lutheran clergvmen are well-in.
formed, simple in their manners and
jealous IN their calling. They are paid
IN kind by the people. Usually thew
get sheep, or an OK, or perhaps one OF
those animals is taken when younO. and
after being fattened by n member of the
congregation is returned to the pastor
Schools are in all the settlements and
rarely can native be found who can
nlther 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
nf fNaAo ks,1., i. 4 4
upon as many would be inclined to
think. They state very clearly and
infinitely that. in the year 1902. Her.
Julf "a descendant of Ingulf, a famous
navigator of that age), and his son
Barr, 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 t
Greenland, did not find his father. HI
had never visited Greenland before
He steered westward for many DAYS anC
n strange north wind bore him consid
erably to the south. After long inter
val he arrived in sight of a low woody
country, which, compared with the des
cription he had received of Greenland
he was sure could not be that country
Proceeding 10 the southwest, he Joined
his father. The information that Bairt
gave of this discovery induced Lier
who hal already discovered Greenland
TO equip vessel and proceed toward,
the continent of America. With thirty.
five companions he sailed toward the
south in the direction indicated By
Bairf. Arriving at fat, strong coast
with mountains covered with snow, Wis
lble at great distance, they called il
Halluland. Proceeding still south
these Adventurous Tcelanders came to q
country of more attractive appearance
From the pretty full description giver
it was probably Nova Scotia. They
called it Markland. A brisk north wind
blowing for two DAYS brought them to 6
finer country, woody and undulatiue
and Astounding with natural products
They were unable to find a port new.
ertheless they landed, as there was an
abundance of fish in the river which
flowed into a bay. Ihey 'ventured tC
pass the winter there. This country
they called Vineland or Wineland.
They found the nights and days less
unequal thanin Iceland or Norway. On