afforded by the rivers, had been the means
of inducing many natives to fix their residence
in them. We found the side of the
mountain by which we descended more
thickly strewed with stones than the summit,
and we observed that these stones contained
a great quantity of a white or greenish
mineral substance, some of which was firmly
imbedded in the rock, and some that had
fallen from it lay dispersed in many places
upon the ground. Of both we gathered
many and very fine specimens. On reaching
the morass below, we were at no great
distance from Hvamore, the house of the
Amptman Stephensen, though, before we
could arrive at it, we had to cross several
rivers and a very unpleasant country. In
our way we passed three or four residences
of respectable appearance, the owners of
which seemed to possess plenty of good
cows and sheep. Hvamore itself was easily
salmon it produces. “ En automne, l’endroit de la
riviere, qui est fixe cOmme gueable, se trouve quelque-
fois si plein de saumons, que les chevaux ont de la peine
a passer, et ne savent oil poser les pieds.” Voyage en
Islande, tom. i. p. 204.
distinguishable from the other buildings by
its superior size and style of architecture,
and was to us rendered still more striking
and interesting by the numerous and happy
groupe of its inhabitants who came out to
welcome us to their home. Besides our
host, our hostess, and their servants, nine of
the handsomest children that I ever saw in
the island were present. All these were the
Amptman’s, and as I happen to have a list
of the whole of this family written down in
my pocket-book by the Etatsroed, it may
be inserted as a specimen of the Christian
names that are made use of in Iceland:
Stephen Stephensen, Amptman of the
Western Quarter of the Island.
Gudrun Stephensen, his wife.
Sigrid Stephensen, his daughter.
Olav Stephensen,
Magnus,
Peter, \ Sons.
Johannes,
Stephen,
Helene,
Ragneidur, Daughters.
Martha,