The Opelousas courier., 1890-08-23

tons have been recorded from these and
other @craters, the last being in 1862, all
being more or less violent and destruc-
tive.
Iceland has several lakes, though all
have been partly filed up by lava flows
The Nudge Lake is in the north and the
-Thingvallavata In the south, and each is
ten miles long by four wide. The rivers
Of Iceland are numerous and of good
size, but untitled for navigation because
Of her torrential and broken character.
Perhaps the most celebrated feature of
Iceland scenery is the great number of
intermittent hot springs, which have
given the name of geysers to similar
springs elsewhere.
The principal town is Reyjavk, q small
and rather picturesque town Of 400,
modelled after Copenhagen. It has three
principal streets and N irregalarly built
suburb, and as the capital, does a fair
amount Of business. A bishop resides
here, It publishes two weekly papers, and
is the centre of the national educational
facilities, which are confined to clement
airy instruction.
The only mode Of travelling in Iceland
is on horseback. Roads do not exist, and
the bride paths, though certainly good,
are at the same time remarkably simple
in their construction. Bridges are q
rarity, and the general methods of cross
ing a stream are by ferry or swimming.
The houses are partly of earth and partly
Of stone and have a turf roof, which in
summer time is so green that it can
scarcely be distinguished from the sur
rounding fields. Timber work is seldom
to De found, Iceland being a woodless
country and the cost of transportation
from the seaports being great. Wooden
houses are only found in the two prin-
cipaI towns. The Icelandic house, how
ever, IS no hut, but possesses intricate
interiors. and is sometimes quite artistic
ally arranged. Sometimes, too, the
house is little more than an earthen
burroW, low, smoke-stained and filthy.
a good deal of the interior dirt is due to
the fact that the houses are mostly built
without freplaces. For the accommoda-
ton of their sheep and cattle the farmers
have small turf windowIess houses,
erected 3 short distance from the
residence. The stables have nc stalls,
aud the horses move about as they like.
Generally speaking the farm houses
are built close together, each farmer
requiring a large grass walk for
his focks, which sometimes are very nu-
merous, and for hay for the winter store.
Tho Ieelandic agriculturist cares nothing
for gay colors, and his house il always
painted Of . somber gray o. b dark red.
Cereals cannot be grown with any sue
cess 10 this country; the only native grain
being q wild sand-oat, from which an
eatable kind Of bread can be made. In
addition to grass, which IS the principal
vegetable produce Of the country, little
else IS grown beside potatoes and turnip.
The everyday costume Of the women
consists Of 4 dght-ftting woolen knitted
bodice, d dark color, with narrow
sleeves buEtoned 1T the wrists and i full
skirt. Asa set-of i striped d checked
apron, usually green or red, Is worn.
The characteristic head-dress isa small
black cap furnished with d long, slken
tasse. When the state costume IS put
on the cap i stipulated 81 ! high white
haad-drsss something ia tie ahaps II i