that the rats, called Le?n?ning, are poured down from
the clouds in great showers on the Alps of Norway.”
Dr. Hooker expresses his regret that “ such a ridiculous
story (as that of the mice) should have been
believed by a British zoologist,” and he says the thing
is laughed at by the more sensible Icelanders. Henderson,
however, not only repeats the story, but
maintains that “ every considerate naturalist will rather
be disposed, with our celebrated zoologist (Pennant), to
reason analogically, from the well-known sagacity of
the beaver and squirrel, than deny the case.” He is
even happy, he says, to have established the truth of it,
as an important fact in natural history, by the testimony
of two eye-witnesses—-a priest and an old woman. He
says he has also established another fact—that they
“ make use of dried mushrooms as sacks, in which they
convey their provisions to the river, and thence to their
homes.” One would suppose that such sagacious
animals, endued with so much wisdom, would build
their winter magazines on the same side of the river
where their provisions were to be had, and spare themselves
the trouble and the danger of a shipwreck, which
Ave are also told sometimes happens. Henderson’s
hook, however, ought to be in the hands of every one
. who meditates a circuit of the island.
I am not aware of any account having been given of
Iceland since the publication of Henderson’s work, now
just twenty years ago. Sir Thomas Wilson made a
voyage thither in his yacht in the year 1831, and Lord
Stuart de Rothsay in 1833, but neither the noble Lord
nor the Baronet have favoured the world Avith Avhat information
they may have collected.
As, therefore, twenty years have expired since a fresh
word has been uttered respecting Iceland, and as in the
course of that period many changes might have taken
place both in the moral and physical world, more especially
in the latter, it is hoped the little mite I have to
offer may, at least, be interesting enough to induce
others to follow up the researches that have been made :
that it Avill be .received in the same kind and encouraging
manner Avhich a former small volume on the
northern countries of Europe experienced, is what I
dare scarcely persuade myself to expect. Had more
time been allowed me, on the present occasion, I should
certainly have collected many more materials; but
to see Iceland well, and as it deserves to be seen—to
Avitness the domestic habits and occupations of the natives,
their mode of living, and every part of their household
economy—is not the work of a month nor of a summer,
but would require a Avhole winter to be passed among
them in their secluded abodes, which,after all, might prove
a less sacrifice of personal comfort than the appearance
of their turf and stone hovels Avould seem to forebode ;
most happy should I be to make the experiment would
circumstances allow me to do so. I know of nothing,
in the way of travel, .so interesting as Avould be a tour
round Iceland, and through the heart of the island, in