nt for by sea, where the danger is still greater on the
storm-tost element.

Though the salary of the medical men is not at all proportionate to the
hardships they are called upon to undergo, it is still far better than
that of the priests.

The smallest livings bring in six to eight florins annually, the richest
200 florins. Besides this, the government supplies for each priest a
house, often not much better than a peasant's cottage, a few meadows, and
some cattle. The peasants are also required to give certain small
contributions in the way of hay, wool, fish, &c. The greater number of
priests are so poor, that they and their families dress exactly like the
peasants, from whom they can scarcely be distinguished. The clergyman's
wife looks after the cattle, and milks cows and ewes like a maid-servant;
while her husband proceeds to the meadow, and mows the grass with the
labourer. The intercourse of the pastor is wholly confined to the
society of peasants; and this constitutes the chief element of that
"patriarchal life" which so many travellers describe as charming. I
should like to know which of them would wish to lead such a life!

The poor priest has, besides, frequently to officiate in two, three, or
even four districts, distant from four to twelve miles from his
residence. Every Sunday he must do duty at one or other of these
districts, taking them in turn, so that divine service is only performed
at each place once in every three or four weeks. The journeys of the
priest, however, are not considered quite so necessary as those of the
doctor; for if the weather is very bad on Sundays, particularly during
the winter, he can omit visiting the most distant places. This is done
the more readily, as but few of the peasants would be at church; all who
lived at a distance remaining at home.

The Sysselmann (an officer similar to that of the sheriff of a county) is
the best off. He has a good salary with little to do, and in some places
enjoys in addition the "strand-right," which is at times no
inconsiderable privilege, from the quantity of drift timber washed ashore
from the American continent.

Fishing and the chase are open to all, with the exception of the
salmon-fisheries in the rivers; these are farmed by the government.
Eider-ducks may not be shot, under penalty of a fine. There is no
military service, for throughout the whole island no soldiers are
required. Even Reikjavik itself boasts only two