The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1912-10-03

mentS passed. Furtler SOutH
detached rock is known as the blood
stone, where for certain ~offenses the
backs of criminals were broken and
the bodies were thrown into the deep
transparent water, which rises from
some subterrarean source and runs
from the rift underground toward the
lake.
The ruins OF the booths where the
members OF the thing. or parliament,
and where at times long age the
heroes Of the Sagas dwelt, are still
visible.
Iceland an Anglers Paradise.
The Thingvalla lake GEMS with
trout and char. as do almost all the
lakes and rivers in Iceland. The
rivers mostly belong to farmers who
own their own land and who charge
from / to 2 kroner IL kroner is equal
to about % cents a day per rod
Trout Of from one to Ave pounds are
plentiful and it Is a rare occasion In
deed when one does not return with
a full basket.
There are a number OF salmon riv.
ers, the pest OF which is the Laxas.
near Reykjavik. which Is let to an
Englishman, but excellent sport can
be got in remoter districts at a mod
crate charge.
In the season excellent shooting
can be obtained. No license Is re-
CURED and the farmers generally give
permission to shoot over their land.
Ptarmigan, snipe, whimbrel, plover,
ducks and wild swan abound.
Among the trips which a be TAX.
en- FROM Reykjavik are Thingvellir
and Hekla. the latter about 5000 feet
above sea level, which is the highest
! volcanic mountain in Iceland, and as
late as 1878 was in eruption and did
a great deal of damage to the sur
rounding farms. Fortunately, no lives
were lost. 1t commenced on Septem
Der 2 and lasted over four months,
the ashes actually being carried as
far as Shetland.
Excellent accommodation can be
had at the Parsonage. Fellsmuli. II
IL usual, however. to take several
pack ponies, as we'll as riding ponies,
to carry tents and other equipment to
camp out. IL the Great geyser is IN
cluded the trip viii last at least a
week.
There is an inn near the geyser
where q bed can be obtained ano
soap purchased. Strange to say, the
Great geyser will sometimes not con
descend to spout unless he receives
from 20 to 90 pounds OF soap. and
then he may remain sulky for a full
week or even longer. but on occasions
he may squirt several times a day
why the soap affects him is unknown
| and likely will remain unknown for al
time coming.
On the main country roads cara
vans OF pack ponies from live tc
twelve in number are frequently me-
with. The ponies are tied head tr
tail: that is the leader will have 9
rome attached to his tail which \:
fastened to the bride Of the followint
pony, and so on; and sometimes cow
and goats ale included.
Punctuality is not a strong poin'
with the lcelanders, a few hours here
or there making no difference in keep
ing appointments. Taking them al
round. however, they are a good ma
tured and extremely intelligent lot
and certainly put the average British
er to shame in their knowledge o
languages. nearly all speaking Danisi
and English, as well as their W
The recognized guides are highly ed
ucated and cultured men, who can b.
relied upon to provide good ponies
riding saddles and pack saddles.
Iceland has no trees with the ex
ception OF two or three small wood
on he east coast. The government
has been endeavoring to cultivat'
pines and frs near Reykjavik, bu
hitherto have met with but little sue
cess.
i In Reykjavik there Is a large am
handsome museum. which from al
ANTIQUARIAN point of view is of i'm
mense interest. Among Its collection
are many manuscripts belonging to tn
old Saga writer's. Under the sam
!, roof is a natural history collection
embracing specimens Of all the AM
mails. birds and Ash in Iceland. Their
Is also o splendid library and a goo
reading room with some thousands Q
} books of reference in ~Icelandic Eng
: lish. German and French.