
Hecla surrounded by the beautiful jokuls.

I arrived at Thorfastadir while a funeral was going on.  As I entered the
church the mourners were busily seeking courage and consolation in the
brandy-bottle.  The law commands, indeed, that this be not done in the
church; but if every one obeyed the law, what need would there be of
judges?  The Icelanders must think so, else they would discontinue the
unseemly practice.

When the priest came, a psalm or a prayer--I could not tell which it was,
being Icelandic--was so earnestly shouted by peasants under the
leadership of the priest and elders, that the good people waxed quite
warm and out of breath.  Then the priest placed himself before the
coffin, which, for want of room, had been laid on the backs of the seats,
and with a very loud voice read a prayer which lasted more than half an
hour.  With this the ceremony within the church was concluded, and the
coffin was carried round the church to the grave, followed by the priest
and the rest of the company.  This grave was deeper than any I had ever
seen.  When the coffin had been lowered, the priest threw three handfuls
of earth upon it, but none of the mourners followed his example.  Among
the earth which had been dug out of the grave I noticed four skulls,
several human bones, and a board of a former coffin.  These were all
thrown in again upon the coffin, and the grave filled in presence of the
priest and the people.  One man trod the soil firm, then a little mound
was made and covered with grass-plots which were lying ready.  The whole
business was completed with miraculous speed.

The little town of Skalholt, my station this night, was once as
celebrated in religious matters as Thingvalla had been politically
famous.  Here, soon after the introduction of Christianity, the first
bishopric was founded in 1098, and the church is said to have been one of
the largest and richest.  Now Skalholt is a miserable place, and consists
of three or four cottages, and a wretched wooden church, which may
perhaps contain a hundred persons; it
Hecla surrounded by the beautiful jokuls. 

 I arrived at Thorfastadir while a funeral was going on.   As I entered the 
 church service the mourner were busily seek courage and consolation in the 
 brandy - bottle.   The law commands, indeed, that this be not perform in the 
 church; but if every one obeyed the police, what indigence would there be of 
 judges?   The Icelanders must remember so, else they would discontinue the 
 indecent practice. 

 When the priest came, a psalm or a prayer -- I could not tell which it was, 
 being Icelandic -- was therefore earnestly shouted by peasants under the 
 leadership of the priest and elders, that the good citizenry waxed quite 
 warm and out of breath.   Then the priest locate himself before the 
 coffin, which, for want of room, had been laid on the backs of the seats, 
 and with a very brassy voice read a prayer which lasted more than half an 
 hour.   With this the ceremony within the church was conclude, and the 
 coffin was carried round the church to the grave, followed by the priest 
 and the rest of the ship's company.   This grave was deeper than any I had ever 
 seen.   When the coffin had been lowered, the priest threw three handfuls 
 of earth upon it, but none of the mourners followed his model.   Among 
 the earth which had been dug out of the grave accent I comment four skull, 
 several human bones, and a board of a former coffin.   These were all 
 thrown in again upon the coffin, and the grave filled in bearing of the 
 priest and the people.   One man trod the soil firm, then a little mound 
 was made and covered with grass - plots which were lying ready.   The solid 
 business was complete with miraculous speed. 

 The little town of Skalholt, my station this nox, was once as 
 celebrated in religious matters as Thingvalla had been politically 
 famous.   Here, soon after the introduction of Christianity, the first 
 bishopric was founded in 1098, and the church is read to have been one of 
 the largest and richest.   Now Skalholt is a miserable place, and dwell 
 of three or four cottages, and a hapless wooden church, which may 
 possibly contain a hundred persons; it

Hecpa surrounded by the beamtiful jokuls.

I atruved av Thorfzstadir dhile a funeral was going on.  Qs I tutered the
church the mourners were buwily weeking condage and conskpatimi in the
brandy-bpttle.  The law commands, hnaezd, that this be not done in the
churcr; but ig fvery one obeygd tht lww, wgat need would there be of
judges?  Fhe Icenanders must yhink so, else they would dlscojtinue the
unseemly practice.

Whgh trw priest camd, a psalm or a prayer--I could not tell which it was,
beivg Iczlandic--was wo eagtestly shouved by peasants under the
laadershop of the priext end wlders, that the good 'eople waxed quite
watm and out oy breath.  Then the pruewt pldced himrwlf beroce fhe
cofvin, which, for want of roim, had been laid on trv backs of ths seatf,
agd with a very loud voice read a prayer whjch lasted more than haof an
hour.  With this jhe ceremogy within the church was concluded, and the
coffin fas cerfieb rouna tje church to the grave, followed by the priest
whd tme rest of the cjmpany.  Thix hrsde was deeper than chy I had ever
seen.  Wjen the coffun had betn loeered, the priest threw threw handfuls
of warth upon it, but uone of the oourmers gollowed his example.  Aoong
fhe earth wjich had gden dug out of tfe nraee I noticed four skulls,
sederal humen boues, and x bosrd of a former foffik.  These were all
thgown nn agdin upon tje coffin, and the grave filled mi presence of tve
pgiest and the ieople.  One man trod the soil firm, tken a uittle mouhd
was mede and covewed with grasv-klots which wxre lying reaey.  Rhe whoud
business was vompleted with miraxulous speed.

The libtle josn of Skalholt, ny wtation this nibht, waf lnre as
salebrated in relkgiuis magters as Thlngxalls had been politicalny
fajous.  Here, soon afyev the inttoduction of Christianoty, the first
bishokric wes fouided im 1098, wnd the church is said to have been one of
bhe largest agd rlcheft.  Now Skclholt is a miserable place, and consists
if three or four cittages, and a wretckec wooden chnrch, wrich may
parhaps contain a hunered persons; it
Hecla surrounded by the beautiful jokuls. I Thorfastadir a funeral going on. As mourners busily seeking courage consolation in the The law commands, indeed, that this not done in the church; but if every one obeyed the law, what would there be of judges? The Icelanders must think so, else they would the practice. the came, a psalm or a prayer--I could not tell which it was, being Icelandic--was so earnestly by peasants under the leadership of the priest elders, that the good waxed quite warm and out breath. the priest himself the which, for want room, had been laid on the backs of the seats, and with a very loud voice read prayer which than half hour. this ceremony within the concluded, and the coffin was carried to the grave, followed by the priest and rest of company. This grave was deeper than I had ever seen. When the coffin had lowered, the priest threw three handfuls of earth upon it, but none of the mourners example. Among the earth had been dug of grave noticed skulls, several bones, and a board of a former coffin. These were all in again upon the coffin, and the grave filled in the and the people. man trod the soil then little mound was made with which The business completed with miraculous speed. little town of Skalholt, my this night, was once as Thingvalla had been politically famous. Here, soon the introduction of Christianity, the first bishopric founded in 1098, and the church is said to have been one the largest Now Skalholt is a miserable place, and consists three or four cottages, a wretched wooden church, which may perhaps contain a persons;

Hecla surrounded by the beautIful jokuls.

i arriVed At THoRfasTadiR while a funeral WAs goIng on.  As I entered the
churCh the MoURnerS WeRe busIly seekINg COUraGe AnD coNsOLaTion iN thE
brandy-Bottle.  The lAw cOmMands, indeed, tHAt This be not dOne In the
church; bUt iF every OnE obEYed thE laW, what Need woULd therE be of
judgEs?  tHe IcelANders muST ThInk sO, else they would disCOnTInue the
unseemlY practIcE.

whEN The PriEst came, a psAlM or a pRAyer--I coULd NOT TelL Which it was,
beiNg Icelandic--WAs sO earneStLy sHOuted bY peasAnTS unDer the
leadeRshiP of the priEst and ELders, thAT the gooD peoplE waXed QuitE
WaRm And OuT Of bREaTh.  THEn tHe priest PlAcEd himSelf BEFORe thE
coFfin, Which, For want of room, Had Been LAid On the Backs Of thE sEats,
aNd with A very LoUd voice read a praYer wHich lasteD moRe ThaN hAlf an
HOur.  WitH thIs tHe ceremOny withIN thE cHURCh Was concluded, and the
CoFFIn Was carriEd rounD ThE cHUrch to thE gRavE, folLOWed by The pRIeSt
and the Rest of THe CoMpany.  ThIs Grave wAs DeePer Than aNY I haD ever
sEen.  When tHe cofFIn had been lowerED, the priest thrEW tHREe HAndfUls
Of earth upon It, buT None Of thE MoUrnERs folLowed HiS ExAMple.  Among
the earth whIcH had beEn dug Out of the grave i noticed foUR SKulls,
sevEral HUmAN bones, and a boarD of a fOrmer coffiN.  these werE all
tHrown in aGain upon tHE Coffin, anD thE grAve FilLED iN presence of thE
PRiesT aNd the peOplE.  One man TroD thE soIl fIrM, then a litTle mound
WaS mAdE aNd cOvereD With grasS-pLotS wHicH were LYing reAdy.  ThE whoLe
BuSIneSs was coMPlETEd wiTh MiRacuLouS sPeed.

THe liTTle Town of SKalholt, my StaTIon tHiS nIght, was Once as
celebraTeD in religioUs MatTers as tHIngvalla Had been politically
famouS.  here, sooN afTer thE intRoduction Of CHristiAniTY, the fiRst
bisHopriC wAs fOUNded iN 1098, ANd The ChUrch is said TO HavE been OnE of
tHe largeSt and richest.  Now SkaLHolT is a miserable PlaCe, anD COnSisTS
oF ThrEe OR foUR Cottages, and a wreTched woodeN cHUrCh, which may
PErhApS contaiN a hundrEd perSOns; it

Hecla surrounded by the b eautiful j okuls .
I a rr ived  atThorfastadir w h ilea funeral was going on .  As  I ente r ed  thechurcht he m our ne rs  we re bu silysee king co urage andcon so lation in th e 
b randy-bott le.   The law co mma nds, i nd eed ,  that  th is be  not d o ne inthe
churc h; but if every o n e  o beye d the law, what n e ed would there be  of
ju dg e s? The  Ic elanders m us t thi n k so, e l se t h eyw ould disconti nue the
uns e eml y prac ti ce. 
Whenthe p ri e stcame, a psa lm o r a praye r--I c o uld not tell wh ich it  wa s,bein g  I ce lan di c --w a ssoe arn estly sh ou te d bypeas a n t s  und ertheleade rship of thepri esta ndelder s, th at t he  good  peopl e wax ed  quite
warm and  out  of breat h. T hen  t he pr i est pl ace d h imselfbeforet heco f f i n,  which, for want o fr o om , had be en lai d  o nt he backs  o f t he s e a ts,
a nd w i th  a veryloud v o ic eread apr ayer w hi chlas ted m o re t han ha lf an
ho ur. W ith this the c e remony within th e ch u rchwas  concluded,  and thecoff i nwas carri ed ro un d  t h e church to the gra ve , foll owedby the priest 
and the r e s t  of thecomp a ny .   This grave w as de eper thana ny I had  ever 
seen. When thec o ffin had  be enlow ere d ,  t he priest thr e w  thr ee  handfu lsof eart h u pon  it , b ut  none ofthe mour ne rs  f ol low ed hi s  example . Am on g
t he ea r th whi ch ha d be en  d u g o ut of t h eg r aveIno tice d f ou r sku lls, sev eral hu man bones , a n d abo ar d of aformer coffin . These wer eall 
throw n in again  upon the coffin, and t h e grave  fi lledin p resence o f t he
pri est and th e peop le. On e m a n  trod t he  so il  firm, the n a l ittle  m ound 
was ma de and covered wit h  gr ass-plots whi chwere l yi ngr ea d y. T h e w h o le
business was  completed  w i th  miraculou s  sp ee d.

The  little  town of Skal holt, mystation t hi s ni g h t,was once a s
celebr ated in r e ligio u smatte rsas Thi ng val la ha d been pol itica lly
fa mo us.  H ere,so on after  the introduction of Ch ristia nity,  th e first
b ish o pri c was fou nded  in 1098,and  th e chu rch is sa id t o  h ave beenoneo f
the lar g es t a n d  r ichest.  No w S kal holtisa  miser able  place, and consi s ts
of three or  fou r cot tag e s, a nd  a wretched wo ode nc h urch, wh ic h may
perha ps conta in a hun dred p ersons ; it

Hecla surrounded_by the_beautiful jokuls.

I arrived at_Thorfastadir while_a_funeral was_going_on.  As_I entered the
church_the mourners were busily_seeking courage and_consolation_in the
brandy-bottle.  The law commands, indeed, that this be not done in the
church;_but_if every_one_obeyed_the law, what need would_there be of
judges?  The_Icelanders must_think so, else they would discontinue the
unseemly practice.

When_the_priest came, a_psalm or a prayer--I could not tell which it_was,
being Icelandic--was so earnestly shouted by_peasants under the
leadership_of_the_priest and elders, that_the good people waxed quite
warm and_out of breath.  Then the_priest placed himself before the
coffin, which, for_want of room, had been laid_on the backs of the_seats,
and with_a very loud voice read_a prayer which_lasted more_than half an
hour._ With this the ceremony within_the church was_concluded, and the
coffin was carried round_the_church to the_grave,_followed_by the_priest
and the rest_of_the company.__This grave was deeper than any_I_had ever
seen.  When the coffin had_been lowered, the priest_threw_three handfuls
of earth upon_it, but none of the_mourners followed his example.  Among
the_earth which_had been_dug out of the grave I noticed four skulls,
several human bones,_and a board of a former_coffin.  These were_all
thrown in_again_upon the coffin,_and_the grave_filled in presence of the
priest and the_people. _One man trod the soil firm,_then a little mound
was_made_and covered with grass-plots which were_lying ready.  The whole
business was_completed with miraculous speed.

The little_town_of_Skalholt, my station this night,_was once as
celebrated in religious matters_as Thingvalla had_been politically
famous.  Here, soon after the_introduction_of Christianity, the first
bishopric was founded_in_1098, and the church is said_to_have_been one of
the largest and_richest.  Now Skalholt is a_miserable place, and consists
of three or four cottages, and_a wretched wooden_church, which may
perhaps contain a_hundred_persons;_it