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per, painted on wood, and apparently of great
antiquity. The width of the church was ten feet,
and the height of the walls about six feet. These
were Avainscoted, and from them large Avooden
beams stretched across from side to side. On these
beams Avere placed in great disorder a quantity of
old bibles, psalters, and fragments of dusty manuscripts.
The interior of the roof, the rafters
of Avhich rested on the Avails, was also lined Avith
Avood. On the right of the door as Ave entered,
and under Avhich Ave AA'ere obliged to stoop considerably,
Ave remarked tAvo or three bells suspended
from the beams Avithin reach. Four or five benches
Avith hacks to them, so croAvded together as almost
to touch one another, Avere placed on each side the
aisle, a narroAv passage being left betAveen them.
There were also some benches placed against the
wainscoted Avails, round that part Avhich formed
the altar. The accommodation Avas said to be sufficient
for forty people; but I am quite at a loss
to imagine hoAV they could all find seats, or even
room to stand. It is not hoAvever often, if ever,
that the church is so croAvded, as the number of inhabitants
living in the immediate iieiglibourhood is
very small—not aboA'e tAvelve or foui teen families
in the Avhole parish.
After partaking of some of the refreshments
Avhich Ave had brought Av i th us, and to which Avere
added some good coffee, some milk, and some excellent
trout from the lake of Thimjvalla - vatn,
supplied by the clergyman, who Avas unremitting in
his attention, and repeatedly entered the church to
offer his services, we noAV began to consider how we
could make ourselves as little uncomfortable for the
night as circumstances Avould admit. The benches
in the aisle were too narroAV to make them available
for the purpose of sleeping on, so were the
benches round the altar. There was no other
place then but the floor; as soon, therefore, as we
had despatched our supper, and wrapped ourselves
up in our cloaks and coats, we lay down and
endeavoured to sleep, tAvo on each side of the communion
table, or large chest that served for one.
This substitute was raised on a sort o f platform,
and betAveen it and some benches, Avhich were
placed against the sides of the Avail, we were
obliged to squeeze in as well as we could, and very
close stoAvage it Avas.
Parish Church o f Thingvalla.
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