, 1874-08-30

| RKJkAv1K, Aug. g. 1874.
| Reaching Thingya11a towards 8 o'clock OF
Thursday evening ng. tie wild valley had under:
| gone complete Transformation since we left il
| three DAYS before. The steep green slopes
| along the foot OF the AllnanuAgja were dotted
with little tents; four large pavil1ons. with sew
era1 smaller ones had been erected along the
bank of the river; on the Mount Of the Law a
ancient banner OF Iceland, 8 white falcon
in q blue field; while On the opposite
| side. towards the Axar cataract, the
mound where the judges we're proved
| and the standards Of the nations represented ut
| tho festival On the right toated the colo,s of
Norway, England. and the United States; on the
loft those OF Denmark, Sweden, and the German
Empire. The standard OF France Sas placed
beside ours tho next morning, whep Baron
| Lctourre eur and another French officer arrived
C!umps of people were ecasterod all over the
valley. or on the rocky, grass-topped heights;
flags tioated in all directions, the smoke OF camp
fires nrose, shouts, greetings, and songs re-
sounded through the a1r,-in short, in place Of
the former gloomy silence and solitude Of the
scene. all was lite and joy.
Riding close upon the heels OF
THE KING
aud his escort, We saw the groups OF people
gather suddenly to crowd around the foo: of
the mound. II appeared that body OF twelve
Icelandlc co,,der, or farmers, selected for their
appearance no lees than their character and stand
ing, had ridden forward to meet His Majesty at
tho farm OF SkyTcot,-a little oasis in the lava
field, about . mile distant, End had escorted
him to the place OF the festival. Here, ranging
themselves six on each side Of the path, they
made sort Of gateway to the Thingva1la ground.
The Chairman of the Committee. Fredriksson,
WAS followed by such 1outl and repeated
cheers that many OF the ponies took fright.
Gov Fiussen was unhorscd. but the King. who
is q most accomplished rider, SAT firmly, patting
his intelligent pony Oh the mock. Then twenty
four girls came forward, scattering the native
flowers Of Iccland-tly1ne auemone, saxifraee,
and geranium-in the royal path, while the
choir, posted on the lava rocks, struck up one Of
their solemn, sou1-Et'rring chants Tho camp
WAS pitched, as before, on the little hill in front
Of the church, but there WAS now quite = little
village OF tents around it. This welcome was al
most an Improvisation, bnt it was entirely sue
ccssfu aud struck favorable Keynote for the
following day.
Morning came and brought no sun. The fair
Weather was gono q cold wind blew down from
tho central deserts Of the island and the Broad
Shield Mountain, in the northeast, soon grew |
dim under vail OF rain. Tho p1oyers pipcd on |
the heather-covered ridges Of lava and the |
weird laughter Of the looms vas heard along the
shores OF the Thingvalla Lake. Onr friend |
Magnueson came early with an Invitation from
the National Committee to breakfast with them
aud the royal party in the pavilion at II o'clock.
The exercises at the Mound OF the Judges were
out with our German guest to visit the famous
Logberg, or Hill Of the Law, where
THE ALTH1Sa
u Popular Assembly Of Iceland was held for
nearly $40 years.
History states that when tho independept
hiefs who first took up the habltabie part Of
celand found it necessary to unite and form
uperior Government for MI, they had some diff
icuIty in selecting suitable spot for it's delib-
zaaons. In the year $50, Thingvaila uAa duh.