moer, in Norway, but by no iiieails
au Icdancleri*,
Vices are indeed much leis common
among them than in other parts,
where riches and luxury have corrupted
the morals o f the people.
Theit is feldom heard o f ; nor are
they Inclined to incontinence, though
there are examples o f perfons liaving
been puniihed more than once on that
account.
Though their poverty difables them
from imitating the hofpitality o f their
anceftors in all refpefts, yet the deiire
o f doing ic ilill exiils: they cheerfully
give away the little they have to
fpare, and exprefs the ntmoil joy and
fatisiaction i f you are pleaied with
their gift. When they want to iliew
I his, nowever, is fnbjefl to fome exceptions ;
for the inhabitants of Omund Fiorden, and fome'
families on the north fide of the iiland, flill weaf
beards ; and in Fniikadal lives a man named Benediil,
known on account of his beard. Between 1740
and 1750 it happened, between the icy mountains
of Sneefaelds Jokne, that two br’ethren dividing between
themfelves the inheritance left them by their
father, one of them, called Helge, gave his brother
four rix-doliars ior the excluiive right of wearing a
beard ; which right, in their family, was the iole
prerogative of their late father.
5 themif
themfelves particularly affeflionatej
they kifs one another on the mouth
on their vifits; they do the fame to
the huiband and the wife, the mother
and the daughter : they are uncommonly
obliging and faithful, and extremely
attached to government *,
They are very zealous in their religion
, and it muil be owned not
entirely free from fuperftition. They
have an inexpreflible attachment for
their native country, and are no where
fo happy. An Icelander, therefore,;
* T o prevent fmuggling, there is a fevere penalty
for piloting a flrange ihip into harbour. When the
philofophic travellers made the coaft, they were under
neceffity to force an Icelander to ftay on board, and to
ferve them as a pilot. And though appeafed by good
treatment and prefents, he neverthelefs carried the
fhip to an nnfafe place, till the governor granted his
leave to bring the fhip to a fafe anchorage. When the
reafon of this ftrange behaviour v;as aflced, the Icelander
anfvvered, he would rather fuiFer himfelf to be
cut in pieces, than to acf againft the regulations of his
king. It is however told, that the inhabitants on the
northern coaft are not quite fo docile, and therefore
lefs obfequious,
t An Icelander never paifes a river, or any other
dangerous place, without previouily taking off his hat,
and imploring divine proteilion ; and he is always
thankful for the prote<ftioQ of God, when he has
paffed the danger.
rarely
1 i'