the place of worship for a more than usual
length of time, either through illness or any
other cause, was kissed by the whole congregation.
As they were little accustomed
to see strangers, they all flocked around us,
presenting us with milk and cream from the
neighboring farm, and asking us an hundred
questions. Many were surprised at our having
come so far for the sake of seeing the
Geysers, which they are accustomed to look
at with the utmost indifference. The dress
of the female children was like that of their
parents, and some of them had even an
equal number of silver ornaments : most of
them wore the faldur, but some of the
younger ones had, instead of it, small caps
of black velvet or cloth, which fit close to
the head and are tied under the chin, ornamented
with gold lace, and frequently terminated
by a silver gilt knob. Caps like
this used formerly to be much more generally
worn by the children than they are at
present; and it is to be remarked, that not
only the cap, but the faldur, also, when the
wearer is on a journey, is carefully wrapped
round with two or more chequered silk handkerchiefs,
being preserved with the greatest
nicety, as constituting a part of their dress, of
which the Icelanders are particularly proud,
Before the commencement of service, the
priest read prayers to a woman after childbirth,
who was sitting on a low stool at the
church door; and this short ceremony was
concluded by his laying his hands on her as
she knelt. During the whole time, the woman
seemed very much affected, and some who
were standing round were extremely attentive.
The church (which like most others
in the island, fronted the west) was similar
to the one at Thingevalle, but more commodious,
in having benches instead of chests
to sit upon. At the time I entered, the
priest was at the altar, dressed in a long
black gown of wadmal, buttoned from top to
bottom in the front, black worsted stockings,
and seal-skin shoes: his hair was hanging
down a great length, reaching to his
shoulders*. The Women and young children
alone sit in the body of the church, the men
* This is the case with all the. natives, who consider it
sinful to shorten the hair which God has caused to grow.
It i3 for the same reason, I suppose, that a few, probably
of the more orthodox, neglect to shave, and rather put
up with the inconvenience of a long beard.