"WefoundourselvesextremelyawkwardindancingwhattheladieswerepleasedtocallEnglishcountrydances。Themusic，whichcamefromasolitaryill-scrapedfiddle，accompaniedbytherumblingofthesamehalf-rottendrumthathadsummonedthehighcourtofjustice，andbythejinglingofarustytriangle，wastomeutterlyunintelligible。Theextremerapiditywithwhichitwasnecessarytogothroughmanycomplicatedevolutionsinpropertime，completelybewilderedus；andourmistakes，andfrequentcollisionswithourneighbours，affordedmuchamusementtoourfairpartners，whofounditforalongtimeimpracticabletokeepusintherighttrack。
　　Whenallowedtobreathealittle，wehadanopportunityofremarkingsomesingularitiesinthestateofsocietyandmannersamongtheDanesofReikjavik。Whileunengagedinthedance，themendrinkpunch，andwalkaboutwithtobacco-pipesintheirmouths，spittingplentifullyonthefloor。TheunrestrainedevacuationofsalivaseemstobeafashionalloverIceland；butwhetherthenativeslearneditfromtheDanes，ortheDanesfromthenatives，wedidnotascertain。Severalladieswhosevirtuecouldnotbearaverystrictscrutinywerepointedouttous。
　　"Duringthedances，teaandcoffeewerehandedabout；andnegusandpunchwerereadyforthosewhochosetopartakeofthem。Acoldsupperwasprovided，consistingofhams，beef，cheese，&c。，andwine。Whileattable，severaloftheladiessang，andacquittedthemselvestolerablywell。ButIcouldnotenjoytheperformance，onaccountoftheincessanttalking，whichwasasfashionablearudenessinIcelandasitisnowinBritain。This，however，wasnotconsideredasintheleastunpolite。Oneofthesongswasinpraiseofthedonorsoftheentertainment；and，duringthechorus，theceremonyoftouchingeachother'sglasseswasperformed。Aftersupper，waltzesweredanced，inastylethatremindedmeofsoldiersmarchingincadencetothedeadmarchinSaul。Thoughtherewasnoneedofartificiallight，anumberofcandleswereplacedintherooms。Whenthecompanybrokeup，aboutthreeo'clock，thesunwashighabovethehorizon。"
　　{29}Amanofeightyyearsofageisseldomseenontheisland——
　　Kerguelen。
　　{30}Kerguelenwritingin1768says:"Theyliveduringthesummerprincipallyoncod'sheads。Acommonfamilymakeamealofthreeorfourcods'headsboiledinsea-water。"——ED。
　　{31}ThisbakehouseistheonlyoneinIceland，andproducesasgoodbreadandbiscuitasanythatcanbeprocuredinDenmark。[InKerguelen'stime1768breadwasveryuncommoninIceland。ItwasbroughtfromCopenhagen，andconsistedofbroadthincakes，orsea-
　　biscuits，madeofrye-flour，andextremelyblack——ED。]
　　{32}Inallhighlatitudesfatoilysubstancesareconsumedtoavastextentbythenatives。Thedesireseemstobeinstinctive，notacquired。Adifferentmodeoflivingwouldundoubtedlyrenderthemmoresusceptibletothecoldoftheseinclementregions。Manyinterestinganecdotesarerelatedofthefondnessofthesehyperboreanracesforakindoffoodfromwhichwewouldturnindisgust。BeforegaswasintroducedintoEdinburgh，andthecitywaslightedbyoil-lamps，severalRussiannoblemenvisitedthatmetropolis；anditissaidthattheirlongingfortheluxuryoftrain-oilbecameoneeveningsointense，that，unabletoprocurethedelicacyinanyotherway，theyemptiedtheoil-lamps。ParryrelatesthatwhenhewaswinteringintheArcticregions，oneoftheseamen，whohadbeensmittenwiththecharmsofanEsquimauxlady，wishedtomakeherapresent，andknowingthetastepeculiartothoseregions，hegaveherwithallduehonoursapoundofcandles，sixtothepound!Thepresentwassoacceptabletothelady，thatsheeagerlydevouredthelotinthepresenceofherwonderingadmirer——ED。
　　{33}AnAmericantravellinginIcelandin1852thusdescribes，inalettertotheBostonPost，themodeoftravelling:-"Alltravelisonhorseback。Immensenumbersofhorsesareraisedinthecountry，andtheyareexceedinglycheap。Asfortravellingonfoot，evenshortjourneys，nooneeverthinksofit。Theroadsaresobadforwalking，andgenerallysogoodforridingthatshoe-leather，tosaynothingoffatigue，wouldcostnearlyasmuchashorse-flesh。Theirhorsesaresmall，compact，hardylittleanimals，asizelargerthanShetlandponies，butrarelyexceedingfrom12or13。5handshigh。A
　　strangerintravellingmustalwayshavea'guide，'andifhedoesgoequippedforagoodjourneyandintendstomakegoodspeed，hewantsasmanyassixhorses；oneforhimself，onefortheguide，onefortheluggage，andthreerelayhorses。Thenwhenonesetofhorsesaretiredthesaddlesareexchangedtotheothers。Therelayhorsesaretiedtogetherandareeitherledordrivenbeforetheothers。A
　　tentisoftencarried，unlessatravellerchoosestochanceitforhislodgings。SuchanarticleasanhotelisnotkeptinIcelandoutofthecapital。Youmustalsocarryyourprovisionswithyou，asyouwillbeabletogetbutlittleonyourroute。Plentyofmilkcanbehad，andsomefresh-waterfish。Theluggageiscarriedintrunksthatarehungoneachsideofthehorse，onarudeframethatservesasapack-saddle。Underthis，broadpiecesofturfareplacedtopreventgallingthehorse'sback。"
　　{34}Thedownoftheeider-duckformsamostimportantandvaluablearticleofIcelandiccommerce。Itissaidthattheweightofdownprocurablefromeachnestisabouthalfapound，whichisreducedone-halfbycleansing。Thedownissoldatabouttwelveshillingsperpound，sothattheproduceofeachnestisaboutthreeshillings。Theeider-duckisnearlyaslargeasthecommongoose；
　　andsomehavebeenfoundontheFernIslands，offthecoastofNorthumberland——ED。
　　{35}ThesameremarkapplieswithequalforcetomanypeoplewhoarenotIcelanders。ItwasoncethehabitamongaportionofthepopulationofLancashire，onreturningfrommarket，tocarrytheirgoodsinabagattachedtooneendofastringslungovertheirshoulders，whichwasbalancedbyabagcontainingastoneattheother。Sometimeago，itwaspointedouttoaworthymanthusreturningfrommarket，thatitwouldbeeasierforhimtothrowawaythestone，andmakehalfofhisloadbalancetheotherhalf，buttheadvicewasrejectedwithdisdain；theplanhehadadoptedwasthatofhisforefathers，andhewouldonnoaccountdepartfromit——ED。
　　{36}ThedescriptionoftheWolf'sHollowoccursinthesecondactofDerFreyschutz，whenRodolphsings:
　　"Howhorrid，dark，andwild，anddrear，Doththisgapinggulfappear!
　　Itseemsthehueofhelltowear。
　　Thebellowingthunderburstsyonclouds，Themoonwithbloodhasstainedherlight!
　　Whatformsarethoseinmistyshrouds，Thatstalkbeforemysight?
　　Andnow，hush!hush!
　　Theowlishootinginyonbush；
　　Howyonderoak-tree'sblastedarmsUponmeseemtofrown!
　　Myheartrecoils，butallalarmsArevain:fatecalls，Imustdown，down。"
　　{37}Thereadermustbearinmindthat，duringtheseasonofwhichIspeak，thereisnotwilight，muchlessnight，inIceland。
　　{38}ThespringsofCarlsbadaresaidtohavebeenunknownuntilaboutfivehundredyearsago，whenahunting-dogbelongingtooneoftheemperorsofGermanyfellin，andbyhishowlingattractedthehunterstothespot。Thetemperatureofthechiefspringis165
　　degrees——ED。
　　{39}HistorytellsofthisgreatIcelandicpoet，thatowingtohistreacherythefreeislandofIcelandcamebeneaththeNorwegiansceptre。ForthisreasonhecouldneverappearinIcelandwithoutastrongguard，andthereforevisitedtheAllthingundertheprotectionofasmallarmyof600men。BeingatlengthsurprisedbyhisenemiesinhishouseatReikiadal，hefellbeneaththeirblows，afterashortandineffectualresistance。[SnorriSturluson，themostdistinguishednameofwhichIcelandcanboast，wasborn，in1178，atHoam。Inhisearlyyearshewasremarkablyfortunateinhisworldlyaffairs。Thefortunehederivedfromhisfatherwassmall，butbymeansofarichmarriage，andbyinheritance，hesoonbecameproprietoroflargeestatesinIceland。Somewriterssaythathisguardof600men，duringhisvisittotheAllthing，wasintendednotasadefence，asindicatedinMadamePfeiffer'snote，butforthepurposesofdisplay，andtoimpresstheinhabitantswithforcibleideasofhisinfluenceandpower。HewasinvitedtothecourtoftheNorwegianking，andthereheeitherpromisedorwasbribedtobringIcelandundertheNorwegianpower。Forthishehasbeengreatlyblamed，andstigmatisedasatraitor；thoughitwouldappearfromsomehistoriansthatheonlyundertooktodobypeaceablemeanswhatotherwisetheNorwegiankingswouldhaveeffectedbyforce，andthussavedhiscountryfromaforeigninvasion。Butbethisasitmay，itisquiteclearthathesunkintheestimationofhiscountrymen，andthefeelingagainsthimbecamesostrong，thathewasobligedtoflytoNorway。Hereturned，however，in1239，andintwoyearsafterwardshewasassassinatedbyhisownson-in-law。TheworkbywhichheischieflyknownistheHeimskringla，orChronicleoftheSea-KingsofNorway，oneofthemostvaluablepiecesofnorthernhistory，whichhasbeenadmirablytranslatedintoEnglishbyMr。SamuelLaing。ThiscuriousnameofHeimskringlawasgiventotheworkbecauseitcontainsthewordswithwhichbegins，andmeansliterallythecircleoftheworld——
　　ED。]
　　{40}AtranslationofthispoemwillbefoundintheAppendix。
　　[NotincludedinthisGutenbergeText——DP]
　　{41}InIceland，asinDenmark，itisthecustomtokeepthedeadaweekaboveground。Itmaybereadilyimaginedthattoanon-
　　Icelandicsenseofsmell，itisanirksometasktobepresentataburialfrombeginningtoend，andespeciallyinsummer。ButIwillnotdenythatthecontinuedsensationmayhavepartlyproceededfromimagination。
　　{42}EveryoneinIcelandrides。
　　{43}Icannotforbearmentioningacuriouscircumstancehere。WhenIwasatthefootofMountEtnain1842，thefieryelementwascalmed；somemonthsaftermydepartureitflamedwithrenewedforce。
　　When，onmyreturnfromHecla，IcametoReikjavik，IsaidjocularlythatitwouldbemoststrangeifthisEtnaofthenorthshouldalsohaveaneruptionnow。ScarcelyhadIleftIcelandmorethanfiveweekswhenaneruption，moreviolentthantheformerone，reallytookplace。Thiscircumstanceisthemoreremarkable，asithadbeeninreposeforeightyyears，andwasalreadylookeduponasaburnt-outvolcano。IfIweretoreturntoIcelandnow，Ishouldbelookeduponasaprophetessofevil，andmylifewouldscarcelybesafe。
　　{44}Everypeasantintolerablygoodcircumstancescarriesalittletentwithhimwhenheleaveshomeforafewdays。Thesetentsare，attheutmost，threefeethigh，fiveorsixfeetlong，andthreebroad。
　　{45}"Thoughtheirpovertydisablesthemfromimitatingthehospitalityoftheirancestorsinallrespects，yetthedesireofdoingitstillexists:theycheerfullygiveawaythelittletheyhavetospare，andexpresstheutmostjoyandsatisfactionifyouarepleasedwiththegift。"UnovonTroil，1772——ED。
　　{46}ThepresenceofAmericanshipsintheportofGottenburgisnottobewonderedat，seeingthatnearlythree-fourthsofalltheironexportedfromGottenburgistoAmerica——ED。
　　{47}"St。Stephen'ssteeple"is450feethigh，beingabout40feethigherthanSt。Paul's，andformspartofSt。Stephen'sCathedralinVienna，amagnificentGothicbuilding，thatdatesasfarbackasthetwelfthcentury。Ithasagreatbell，thatweighsabouteighteentons，beingmorethandoubletheweightofthebellinSt。Peter'satRome，andfourtimestheweightofthe"GreatTomofLincoln。"
　　ThemetalusedconsistedofcannonstakenfromtheTurksduringtheirmemorablesiegesofVienna。Thecathedralis350feetlongand200wide，beinglessthanSt。Paul'sinLondon，whichis510
　　feetlongand282wide——ED。
　　{48}TheStorthingisthenamegiventotheNorwegianparliament，whichassemblesonceeverythreeyearsatChristiania。Thetimeandplaceofmeetingarefixedbylaw，andthekinghasnopowertopreventorpostponeitsassembly。Itconsistsofaboutahundredmembers，whodividethemselvesintotwohouses。Themembersmustnotbeunderthirtyyearsofage，andmusthavelivedfortenyearsinNorway。Theelectorsarerequiredtobetwenty-fiveyearsofage，andtobeeitherburgessesofatown，ortopossesspropertyoftheannualvalueof30l。Themembersmustpossessthesamequalification。ThemembersoftheStorthingareusuallyplain-
　　spoken，sensiblemen，whohavenodesiretoshineasorators，butwhodespatchwithgreatnativesagacitythebusinessbroughtbeforethem。ThisStorthingisthemostindependentlegislativeassemblyinEurope；fornotonlyhasthekingnopowertopreventitsmeetingattheappointedtime，butshouldherefusetoassenttoanylawsthatarepassed，theselawscomeintoforcewithouthisassent，providedtheyarepassedbythreesuccessiveparliaments——ED。
　　{49}ThepresentkingofSwedenandNorwayisOscar，oneofthefewfortunatescionsofthoselowlyfamiliesthatwereraisedtoroyalpoweranddignitybyNapoleon。Hisfather，Bernadotte，wasthesonofanadvocate，andenteredtheFrencharmyasacommonsoldier；inthatserviceherosetotherankofmarshal，andthenbecamecrown-
　　prince，andultimatelykingofSweden。Hediedin1844。ThemotherofOscarwasDesireeClary，asisterofJulieClary，wifeofJosephBonaparte，theelderbrotherofNapoleon。ThisladywasaskedinmarriagebyNapoleonhimself，butherfatherrefusedhisassent；andinsteadofbecominganunfortunateempressofFrance，shebecameafortunatequeenofSwedenandNorway。OscarwasbornatParisin1799，andreceivedhiseducationchieflyinHanover。HeaccompaniedhisfathertoSwedenin1810，andascendedthethroneonhisfather'sdeathin1844。In1824hemarriedJosephineBeauharnois，daughterofPrinceEugene，andgranddaughterofthebrilliantandfascinatingJosephine，thefirstandbestwifeofNapoleon。Oscarismuchbelovedbyhissubjects；hisadministrationismild，just，andequable；andhispersonalabilitiesandacquirementsarefarbeyondtheaverageofcrownedheads——ED。
　　{50}Bergenisatownofabouttwenty-fivethousandinhabitants，situatedneartheKonsFiord，onthewestcoastofNorway，anddistantabout350milesfromChristiania。Itistheseatofabishopric，andaplaceofveryconsiderabletrade，itsexportsbeingchieflyfish。IthasgivenitsnametoacountyandatownshipinthestateofNewJersey。TherearethreeotherBergens，——oneintheislandofRugen，oneintheNetherlands，andanotherintheelectorateofHesse——ED。
　　{51}KulleistheSwedishforhill。
　　{52}DelekarlienisaSwedishprovince，situatedninetyoronehundredmilesnorthofStockholm。
　　{53}ThefamilyofSturrewasoneofthemostdistinguishedinSweden。StenSturreintroducedprintingintoSweden，foundedtheUniversityofUpsala，andinducedmanylearnedmentocomeover。HewasmortallywoundedinabattleagainsttheDanes，anddiedin1520。
　　Hissuccessorsasgovernors，Suante，NilsonSturre，andhisson，StenSturretheyounger，stillliveinthememoryoftheSwedishnation，andarehonouredfortheirpatriotismandvalour。
　　{54}TheUniversityofUpsalaisthemostcelebratedinthenorth。
　　ItowesitsorigintoStenSturre，theregentofthekingdom，bywhomitwasfoundedin1476，onthesameplanastheUniversityofParis。ThroughtheinfluenceoftheJesuits，whowishedtoestablishanewacademyinStockholm，itwasdissolvedin1583，butre-establishedin1598。GustavusVasa，whowaseducatedatUpsala，gaveitmanyprivileges，andmuchencouragement；andGustavusAdolphusreconstitutedit，andgiveitveryliberalendowments。
　　Therearetwenty-fourprofessors，andthenumberofstudentsisbetweenfourandfivehundred——ED。
　　{55}SeenovelofIvar，theSkjutsBoy，byMissEmilieCarlen。
　　{56}AtCalmarwasconcluded，in1397，thefamoustreatywhichbearsitsname，bywhichDenmark，Sweden，andNorwaywereunitedunderonecrown，thatcrownplacednominallyontheheadofEricDukeofPomerania，butvirtuallyonthatofhisauntMargaret，whohasreceivedthenameof"theSemiramisoftheNorth。"——ED。
　　{57}ThereisnowarailwaydirectfromHamburghtoBerlin——ED。
　　{58}Aflorinisabouttwoshillingssterling——ED。
　　{59}HerrT。SchefferofModling，nearVienna，givesthefollowingcharacteristicofthisnewdipteralanimal，whichbelongstothefamilymuscidae，andresemblesthespeciesborborus:
　　Antennaedeflexae，breves，triarticulatae，articuloultimophoereco；
　　sedanuda。
　　Hypoctomasubprominulum，frontelata，setosa。Oculirotundi，remoti。Abdomenquinqueannulatum，dorsonudo。Tarsisimplices。
　　Alaeincumbentes，abdominelongiores，nervoprimosimplici。
　　Niger，abdominenitido，antennispedibusquerufopiceis。