how to get at a pinch; for their boxes*
are shaped generally like a small flask, with
an extremely narrow neck and mouth, which
is stopped by a plug or peg of wood, fastened
by its upper end to the neck of the box by
means of a piece of string. The sides are carved
with ornaments of various kinds, and inlaid
very neatly with brass or silver: at the bottom,
by means of a larger hole, which is
closed by a screw, the snuff is admitted into
the box, and our pilots soon shewed us their
method of getting it out for use, which was,
by holding their heads back, and inserting
into one of their nostrils the mouth of the
box; when, by two or three gentle shakes,
a sufficient quantity is admitted into the
nose, to produce the desired effect. Nothing
more was then required, but to wipe away
the superfluous particles from the nose, by
drawing the back of the hand across it. However,
this is not the only, although the ge-
Their shape might, perhaps, he more aptly compared
to a pair of bellows in miniature, or to an English
pounce-box, some of which I have seen with flat
sides considerably like them, but smaller. The middle
part of an Icelandic snuff-box is made of wood, the
neck and screw of brass..'
neral method of making use of their chief
luxury; for the more moderate snuff-takers
will be satisfied by shaking some upon the
back of their hand, and then inhaling it with
their nostrils; or by expanding the fore finger
and thumb, so as to form a little pit or
hollow at the base of the thumb, which will
contain half a nostril-full: but, by this method,
more is wasted. It is, perhaps, one
of the most disagreeable features among the
generality of the Icelanders, both men and
women, that their nostrils are always overflowing
with this precious dust. The information
which these men gave us was, that
the governor of the island, Count Tramp,
had just arrived in his ship, the Orion, from
Denmark, and, that a man of war, from
England, had but two days previous left
Reikevig, where she had been staying some
time, and had been entering into an agreement
with the governor about permitting the
island to trade with the English. In a few
hours, we came within sight of the islands
about Reikevig, which appeared to be pretty
well clothed with grass, and to have on them
both houses and cattle. Along the shore,
also, were here and there scattered a few