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Avhicli Avas observed rising out of the ground at a
short distance ; and this Ave aftenvards found to be
the permanent ebullition of a hot spring, Avhich may
have given the name of Reikiavik to the capital
“ the smoking village.” This is the more
probable, as we have Reykum, Reykholt’s-dals,
Reykianaes, Reykendals-aa, and twenty others, at
all of Avhich are hot-springs emitting steam and
smoke.
But the most remarkable feature of the country
Avhich surrounds Reikiavik may be called a negative
one— the total Avant of a tree or a bush—and,
being nearly an uniform plain,—the Avant of character.
For seA’eral miles the surface appeared to
be one continued bog, out of Avhich protruded here
and there some dark-looking rocks and detached
stones, not in the least like boulders that had been
rolled thither, but irregular, angular, and pointed
masses, most of which seemed to be rooted in the
soil.
Such Avas the unfavourable prospect of the neighbouring
country as seen from the beach. The toAvn
itself did not much improve by a closer acquaintance
; yet it could not escape us that this spot Avas
the residence of the Stiftamptman, or governor-general,—
of the Bishop of Iceland,—of the Tatsroed
Avho presides over the Supreme Court of Judicature,—
and of other public officers; and that it also
Avas the principal emporium of the island. On the
top of the beach, immediately in front of the houses.
/
vast quantities of fish were strewed about to dry in
the sun. There Avere also three or four different
square piles or stacks of the heads of fish, Avhich
it appears are kept for the home consumption of
the fishermen and lower orders. Six or eight large
scales, for Aveighing the fish, were placed in front
of the merchants’ dwelling and store houses ; and
numerous fishing-boats were draAvn up on the
beach, chiefly at the western extremity, the fishing
season being apparently at an end, as none of these
Avere launched Avhile Ave remained at Reikiavik. In
fact, I understood that the fishery had ceased for
the season. The boats were a little like the Nor-
Avegian in their form, but stronger and better built.
I should almost be inclined to say that they Avere
the strongest-built boats I have ever seen in any
part of the Avorld ; and yet there Avas nothing awk-
Avard in their shape or appearance. Judging from
the weather Ave experienced, and the violence of
the seas off the coast, their strength must he sometimes
pretty severely tried.
In addition to the row of houses seen from
the harbour, another roAv made its appearance
behind it— perhaps I ought to say tAvo imperfect
rows, forming a sort of street, running at right
angles with the former, near its Avestern extremity.
This street, or space between the houses,
Avas encumbered Avith the same kind of rocks
starting out of the soil that we observed in the
plain. In this portion of the toAvn is the residence