PREFACE. LONG prefaces are seldom read, and therefore the author, or rather compiler, of the following pages will confine his remarks to an explanation of the plan and scope of his work. be The data from which our knowledge of the northern regions is derived are already before the world. Crantz has made us acquainted with Greenland, Parry with the northeastern coast of this continent, and Franklin with the interior. Yet the results of their labors are preserved in a form which precludes the majority of readers from profiting by their observations. The voyages of Captain Parry, for example, as they have heretofore been published, fill several large volumes, and the same may said of the travels of Captain Franklin and his coadjutors. The object of this work, therefore, is, as its title implies, to give the reader a condensed account of what is known of the northern regions of the new world, from the latest and best authorities. To this end the compiler has availed himself of the writings of Henderson, Crantz, Parry, Franklin, Richardson, Kotzebue, and others, and, in many instances, has used their very words. He does not pretend to say all that may be said, nor to record every adventure of the enterprising travellers; but he trusts that he has omitted nothing essential to a knowledge of the regions he describes, as far as they are known. Whaterer has appeared to him worthy of commemoration, he has' 'set down; but unimportant details have been omitted. Whether the task prescribed in these premists has been well or ill performed, it is certain that no work on this plan, or undertaken with the same object, has yet appeared. Such as the book is, it is now presented to those by whom it must be judged. CONTENTS. Of the Geographical Situation of Iceland.-Its Discovery and Colonization.- Patriarchal Government of the early Settlers.-The Icelandic Republic.- Its Government.--Code of Ulfliot.-Code of Bergthor.-The Jonsbok.- Conversion of the Icelanders.-Subjugation of Iceland to Norway.-Legal Punishments.-Present Government of Iceland.-Attempted Revolution Geologic Character of Iceland.-Volcanoes and Ice Mountains.-Mount Hecla. -Eruption of Skaptar Yokul.-Its Consequences.-Skaptar Yokul. Situation of the Geysers.-Description of the Great Geyser.-Its Eruption.- The Strockr.-The Old Strockr.-The little Geyser.-Hot springs at va- The cave of Surtshellir.-Towns and Settlements. Reykiavik Videy.-Dru- idical Circle at Thingvalla.--Holum.-Akur Egri.-Population of Ice- land.-Religion and Form of Church Government.--Clergy.-Education. ---School at Bessastad.-Icelandic Literature.-Runic Poetry.--Death Song Cold in Iceland.-Polar Ice.-Winter.-Summer.-The Fishery.-Summer, Occupation of the Icelanders.-Occupation of the Women.-Treatment of Strangers.-Pastoral Life.-Houses of the Icelanders.-A Winter Eve- ning in Iceland.-Horses.-Reindeer.-Visit to the Trading Houses.— |