We Descended Into This Sombre Vale Through Piles Of Lava And Fields
Of Snow, And Went On Through Valleys And Chasms, Over Fields Of
Lava, Plains Of Meadow-Land, Past Dark Mountains And Hills, Till We
Reached The Chief Station Of My Icelandic Journey, The Town Of
Reikjavik.
The whole country between Reikum and Reikjavik, a distance of 45 to
50 miles, is, for the most part, uninhabited.
Here and there, in
the fields of lava, stand little pyramids of the same substance,
which serve as landmarks; and there are two houses built for such
persons as are obliged to travel during the winter. But we found
much traffic on the road, and often overtook caravans of 15 to 20
horses. Being the beginning of August, it was the time of trade and
traffic in Iceland. Then the country people travel to Reikjavik
from considerable distances, to change their produce and
manufactures, partly for money, partly for necessaries and luxuries.
At this period the merchants and factors have not hands enough to
barter the goods or close the accounts which the peasants wish to
settle for the whole year.
At this season an unusual commotion reigns in Reikjavik. Numerous
groups of men and horses fill the streets; goods are loaded and
unloaded; friends who have not met for a year or more welcome each
other, others take leave. On one spot curious tents {44} are
erected, before which children play; on another drunken men stagger
along, or gallop on horseback, so that one is terrified, and fears
every moment to see them fall.
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