teenth century commenced with a dreadful mortality from the
smallpox; of which disease more than 16,000 of the inhabitants died. In
1757 a famine swept away about 10,000 souls.

The year 1783 was distinguished by most dreadful volcanic outbreaks in
the interior of the island. Tremendous streams of lava carried all
before them; great rivers were checked in their course, and formed lakes.
For more than a year a thick cloud of smoke and volcanic ashes covered
the whole of Iceland, and nearly darkened the sunlight. Horned cattle,
sheep, and horses were destroyed; famine came, with its accompanying
illnesses; and once more appeared the malignant small-pox. In a few
years more than 11,000 persons had died; more than one-fourth of the
whole present population of the island.

Iceland lies in the Atlantic ocean; its greatest breadth is 240
geographical miles, and its extreme length from north to south 140 miles.
The number of inhabitants is estimated at 48,000, and the superficial
extent of the island at 29,800 square miles.

CHAPTER III

On the morning of the 16th of May I landed in the harbour of Havenfiord,
and for the first time trod the shores of Iceland. Although I was quite
bewildered by sea-sickness, and still more by the continual rocking of
the ship, so that every object round me seemed to dance, and I could
scarcely make a firm step, still I could not rest in the house of Herr
Knudson, which he had obligingly placed at my disposal. I must go out at
once, to see and investigate every thing. I found that Havenfiord
consisted merely of three wooden houses, a few magazines built of the
same material, and some peasants' cottages.

The wooden houses are inhabited by merchants or by their factors, and
consist only of a ground-floor, with a front of four or six windows. Two
or three steps lead up to the entrance, which is in the centre of the
building, and opens upon a hall from which doors lead into the rooms to
the right and left. At the back of the house is situated the kitchen,
which opens into several back rooms and into the yard. A house of this
description consists only of five or six rooms on the ground-floor and a
few small attic bedrooms.

The internal arrangements are quite European. The furniture--which is
often of mahogany,--the mirrors, the cast-iron stoves, every thing, in
short, come from Copenhagen. Beautiful carpets lie spread before the
sofas; neat curtains shade the windows; Engli