ings with what they call -wike-waka,^
where a man and woman take one*
another by the hand, and by turns
fing ilaiizas, which are a kind o f dialogue;
and to which the company
fometimes join in chorus. This however
affords little amufement to a
ftranger, as they generally fing very
bad, without obferving time, or any
other grace, particularly as they have
iiot the leaff knowledge o f the modern
improvements in muiic *.
To their diverfions likewife belongs
that called glacder, where one amon«*
them is diiguifed ; ringhrud, where ten
or twelve men join hands, and form a
ring in dancing; and it is reckoned a
great dexterity to break tlirongh the
ring, without deftroying their order ;
glimu lift, which has been mentioned
before, and means wreftling ; hnatt
leikur, or playing with bowls on the
I obferved two kinds o f mufical inftruments in
Iceland, one called Uringfpil, with fix brafs firings ;
the other c&WtdJldla, with two firings made of horfes
hair : both are played by a bow. I likewife heard of
another inftrnment c a l l e d b u t I never could
get a fight of it.
ice :
:si.’
ice; lyftridin, or riding races for ^
wager, &c.
They are famous for playing at chefs,
and had formerly two forts o f this
game ; one o f which was called jung-
fnifchach (ladies chefs) and the other
fiddare ftchach * (knights chefs) : at
prefent only the laft is common.
They alfo amufe themfelves with kotra
(a game at tables) they play on it,
forkjerung or olofstaft, when the table
men are ranged blindfold, without
dice, according to an old fong that
muft be fung by heart. Befides thefe
games they have others called MUnUi
Faringar'taft, and Goda-taft, They
alfo play fome games at cards, caMed
Alkort, Handkarrer, Frufpill, and
Pamphide ; all thefe games are merely
for amufement, fince they never play
for money, which feems however to
have been formerly a cuftom among
them; for in one of their old laws
a fine is laid on thofe who ihould play
for money.
Vide letter o f Arnus Magnal to Widalin, communicated
to me in manufcript by Mr. Thorotti.
L E T T E R