the government now seeing their real situation,
and fearing lest farther acts of a
similar nature should be committed, found
themselves under the necessity of concluding
a convention, permitting a mercantile connection
to be opened between the inhabitants
of Reikevig and Mr. Savigniac, a measure
that in reality was but of little importance,
as the natives were still intimidated by the
threats of those in power, and dared not
purchase of the English; so that every thing
went on, as before, through the hands of
the Danish factors, who bought only just
enough for their own immediate use. How
hard this was, will immediately be seen, when
it is known that of all the various articles
on board the Clarence two only were on any
terms to be procured in Iceland, salt and grain,
the latter of which was entirely monopolized
by government, and not to be purchased
at a lower rate than twenty-two dollars per
barrel, a price that virtually amounted to a
prohibition, as it rendered it quite out of
the reach of many even of the higher classes
of the inhabitants. Mr. Savigniac, on the
contrary, offered his at considerably less
than half this price, but still no purchasers *
were to be found, nor could he procure even
tallow or any other kind of Icelandic produce
in exchange for it; so, entirely foiled
in his expectations, he was under the necessity
of determining to remain himself in
the country, and take care of his valuable
* It is but fair to remark, that the time of year, in
some measure, prevented so ready a sale of the cargo
as Mr. Savigniac seems to have expected, though
Count Tramp attributes the failure to a different
cause, and asserts that the ship was loaded with
luxuries instead of necessaries.—To use his words,
“ this little town (Reikevig) was now overstocked
with luxuries of all descriptions, that could not but find
a slow and tardy sale, at a season of the year when the
commerce could only be carried on with the inhabitants
of the town, and its immediate vicinity; for it is only
in the month of June that a degree of communication,
intercourse, and barter between the more distant towns
and parts of the country begins to take place in Iceland.
Of real necessaries, on the contrary, such as the country
wanted, and for which there was at that time in particular
a demand, only a very inconsiderable quantity
was imported, so that, partly owing to these causes,
and partly to extravagant sacrifices and expences, and
to rash and imprudent speculations and general mismanagements,
it was not long before it was reported that
this new establishment turned out a losina: concern. ”—■
Count Tramp's Narrative.