letters from high latitudes-第11章
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ht home by an honest Icelander； was now lying downthat position being the one he found most convenient。
As the first day's journey was two…and…thirty miles； and would probably necessitate his being twelve or thirteen hours in the saddle； I began to be really alarmed for my poor chef； but finding on inquiry that these gloomy prognostics were entirely voluntary on the part of Mr。 Wilson； that the officer in question was full of zeal； and only too anxious to add horsemanship to his other accomplishments； I did not interfere。 As for Wilson himself； it is not a marvel if he should see things a little askew； for some unaccountable reason； he chose to sleep last night in the open air； on the top of a hen… coop； and naturally awoke this morning with a crick in his neck； and his face so immovably fixed over his left shoulder； that the efforts of all the ship's company have not been able to twist it back： with the help of a tackle； however； I think we shall eventually brace it square again。
At two we went to lunch with the Rector。 The entertainment bore a strong family likeness to our last night's dinner； but as I wanted afterwards to exhibit my magic lantern to his little daughter Raghnilder； and a select party of her young friends； we contrived to elude doing full justice to it。 During the remainder of the evening； like Job's children； we went about feasting from house to house； taking leave of friends who could not have been kinder had they known us all our lives； and interchanging little gifts and souvenirs。 With the Governor I have left a print from the Princess Royal's drawing of the dead soldier in the Crimea。 From the Rector of the cathedral church I have received some very curious booksalmost the first printed in the island； I have been very anxious to obtain some specimens of ancient Icelandic manuscripts； but the island has long since been ransacked of its literary treasures； and to the kindness of the French consul I am indebted for a charming little white fox； the drollest and prettiest little beast I ever saw。
Having dined on board the 〃Artemise；〃 we adjourned at eleven o'clock to the beach to witness the departure of the baggage。 The ponies were all drawn up in one long file； the head of each being tied to the tail of the one immediately before him。 Additional articles were stowed away here and there among the boxes。 The last instructions were given by Sigurdr to the guides； and everything was declared ready for a start。 With the air of an equestrian star； descending into the arena of Astley's Amphitheatre； the cook then stepped forward； made me a superb bow； and was assisted into the saddle。 My little cabin…boy accompanied him as aide…de…camp。
The jovial Wilson rides with us tomorrow。 Unless we get his head round during the night； he will have to sit facing his horse's tail； in order to see before him。
We do not seem to run any danger of falling short of provisions； as by all accounts there are birds enough in the interior of the country to feed an Israelitish emigration。
LETTER VII。
KISSESWILSON ON HORSEBACKA LAVA PLATEAUTHINGVALLA ALMANNAGIARABNAGIAOUR TENTTHE SHIVERED PLAIN WITCH…DROWNINGA PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE； A。 D。 1000 THANGBRAND THE MISSIONARYA GERMAN GNAT…CATCHERTHE MYSTICAL MOUNTAINSSIR OLAFHECKLASKAPTA JOKULTHE FIRE DELUGE OF 1783WE REACH THE GEYSIRSTROKRFITZ'S BONNE FORTUNEMORE KISSESAN ERUPTIONPRINCE NAPOLEON RETURNTRADEPOPULATIONA MUTINYTHE REINE HORTENSETHE SEVEN DUTCHMENA BALLLOW DRESSES NORTHWARD HO！
Reykjavik； July 7； 1856。
At last I have seen the famous Geysirs； of which every one has heard so much； but I have also seen Thingvalla； of which no one has heard anything。 The Geysirs are certainly wonderful marvels of nature； but more wonderful； more marvellous is Thingvalla； and if the one repay you for crossing the Spanish Sea； it would be worth while to go round the world to reach the other。
Of the boiling fountains I think I can give you a good idea； but whether I can contrive to draw for you anything like a comprehensible picture of the shape and nature of the Almannagja； the Hrafnagja； and the lava vale； called Thingvalla； that lies between them； I am doubtful。 Before coming to Iceland I had read every account that had been written of Thingvalla by any former traveller； and when I saw it； it appeared to me a place of which I had never heard； so I suppose I shall come to grief in as melancholy a manner as my predecessors； whose ineffectual pages whiten the entrance to the valley they have failed to describe。
Having superintendedas I think I mentioned to you in my last letterthe midnight departure of the cook； guides； and luggage； we returned on board for a good night's rest； which we all needed。 The start was settled for the next morning at eleven o'clock； and you may suppose we were not sorry to find； on waking； the bright joyous sunshine pouring down through the cabin skylight； and illuminating the white…robed； well…furnished breakfast…table with more than usual splendour。 At the appointed hour we rowed ashore to where our eight poniestwo being assigned to each of us； to be ridden alternatelywere standing ready bridled and saddled； at the house of one of our kindest friends。 Of course； though but just risen from breakfast； the inevitable invitation to eat and drink awaited us； and another half…hour was spent in sipping cups of coffee poured out for us with much laughter by our hostess and her pretty daughter。 At last； the necessary libations accomplished； we rose to go。 Turning round to Fitz； I whispered； how I had always understood it was the proper thing in Iceland for travellers departing on a journey to kiss the ladies who had been good enough to entertain them；little imagining he would take me at my word。 Guess then my horror； when I suddenly saw him； with an intrepidity I envied but dared not imitate； first embrace the mamma； by way of prelude； and then proceed； in the most natural manner possible； to make the same tender advances to the daughter。 I confess I remained dumb with consternation； the room swam round before me； I expected the next minute we should be packed neck and crop into the street； and that the young lady would have gone off into hysterics。 It turned out； however； that such was the very last thing she was thinking of doing。 With a simple frankness that became her more than all the boarding…school graces in the world； her eyes dancing with mischief and good humour； she met him half way； and pouting out two rosy lips； gave him as hearty a kiss as it might ever be the good fortune of one of us he…creatures to receive。 From that moment I determined to conform for the future to the customs of the inhabitants。
Fresh from favours such as these； it was not surprising we should start in the highest spirits。 With a courtesy peculiar to Iceland； Dr。 Hjaltelin； the most jovial of doctors；and another gentleman； insisted on conveying us the first dozen miles of our journey； and as we clattered away through the wooden streets； I think a merrier party never set out from Reykjavik。 In front scampered the three spare ponies； without bridles； saddles； or any sense of moral responsibility； flinging up their heels； biting and neighing like mad things； then came Sigurdr； now become our chief； surrounded by the rest of the cavalcade； and finally； at a little distance； plunged in profound melancholy； rode Wilson。 Never shall I forget his appearance。 During the night his head had come partially straight； but by way of precaution； I suppose； he had conceived the idea of burying it down to the chin in a huge seal…skin helmet I had given him against the inclemencies of the Polar Sea。 As on this occasion the thermometer was at 81 degrees； and a coup…de…soleil was the chief thing to be feared； a ton of fur round his skull was scarcely necessary。 Seamen's trousers； a bright scarlet jersey； and jack…boots fringed with cat…skin； completed his costume； and as he proceeded along in his usual state of chronic consternation； with my rifle slung at his back and a couple of telescopes over his shoulder； he looked the image of Robinson Crusoe； fresh from having seen the foot…print。
A couple of hours' ride across the lava plain we had previously traversed brought us to a river； where
