The employments of each individual Icelander
are necessarily various, since artists,
mechanics, and people of different professions
are almost unknown among them. *In.
the winter the care of the cattle is of the
highest importance; the stoutest and most
healthy of the men are then occupied in the
preservation of those to which shelter anff
dry food cannot be afforded at this inclement
season, and it is necessary to remove the
snow as much 1 1 as possible from the Vg rass■?
that the beasts may be able to procure a subsistence,
however scanty, Other men are
employed in picking the coarse wool from
the fine, and manufacturing it into ropes,
bridles, stirrup-straps, and cushions, which
are often used instead of saddles, They
Vinland, and established a small colony, whither many
persons both Greenlanders' and Icelanders resorted.
But as a more detailed account of the discovery and
settlements in these two places, although connected
with Icelandic history, would carry me beyond the
intended limits of this Introduction, I will beg leave
to refer my readers to the first volume of Percy’s
Northern Antiquities, for much more interesting inform
mation on this subject.
also prepare skins for their fishing-dresses,
and tan others to make into saddles, as well
as thongs to fasten burthens upon their
horses, and they forge iron into scythes,
horse-shoes, and different kinds of tools.
The women find abundant occupation in
washing the wool, and in picking, carding,
and spinning it; as well as in knitting
gloves and stockings, and in weaving or
dying flannel and stuffs for their various
dresses, all which they make themselves, as
they do their shoes of untanned skin. The
fulling of the cloth falls to the lot of the
men.
As early as the month of February or
March, the fishing-season calls the men or
at least the greater number of them to the
coast: others only resort thither in the
summer, when the fishing is nearly completed,
and take with them their butter and
wadmal to exchange for the fish, with which
they return loaded. At that time of the
year, also, the Danes are accustomed, to
arrive in the different ports, and an opportunity
is thus afforded to the natives of
carrying on a little trade with them. To
the fishery succeeds the season for drying