John Barrow

A Visit to Iceland, by Way of Tronyem, in the 'flower of Yarrow' Yacht, in the Summer of 1834 John Barrow

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1835. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV REIKIAVIK AND ITS VICINITY. Appearance of the Town from the Anchorage--Submarine Volcanoes--Beach of Lava--Derivation of the Name of Reikiavik--Description of the Town--of the Inhabitants--their Houses and Gardens--Feebleness of Vegetation--The Cathedral and Public Library--Visit the Constituted Authorities--Agreeable surprise on finding the Governor an old travelling Acquaintance--Visit the Bishop--his great civility, and offer to be in any way useful--Fishermen's Huts--Want of Society in the Winter Months--Traffic by Barter with the Interior--Visit to the Salmon Fishery of Lax Elbe--to the Hot Springs--Nature of the Country in the Vicinity of Reikiavik. A Stranger who first approaches the shore on which Reikiavik stands, and has not prepared himself by reading for what he may expect beyond the simple fact, that it is the capital of Iceland, cannot possibly behold what he sees of it, and he sees at least the better half of the whole from the anchorage, without experiencing a strong feeling of disappointment. He perceives only a long row of houses, or rather the upper parts of houses, running parallel to, and close behind, a rising beach of black shingle, their red or brown roofs being the most conspicuous, F and the tops of the doors only, and perhaps about half of a row of windows peeping above the said beach; but he sees enough of them to satisfy himself that they are of a low mean character, and only of one story in height. On each extremity of this line of houses he will observe a rising eminence, scarcely deserving the name of a hill, on which he will perceive a number of sod or turf huts raised a little, and but a little, above the level of the ground; their roofs, and generally their sides too, verdant enough and well clothed with grass...