EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH OF ICELAND. 419 



and my course made so clear and plain that I had no hesitation 

 whatever in starting on my journey. Mr. Howell was a strictly 

 conscientious man ; he loved Iceland, and laboured hard to open 

 it up to the outside world. His untimely loss will be deplored 

 by none more sincerely than by the Icelanders themselves, who 

 have lost a true well-wisher. 



My friend Mr. Henry Cox kindly undertook at the last 

 moment, and when pressure was heaviest upon rae, the entire 

 management of the all-important ammunition department; while 

 Mr. W. T. Wilson, of philatelist fame, gave much valuable in- 

 formation on baggage, pack-boxes (special), and provisions. 



Dr. Bowdler Sharpe and others at the British Museum I thank 

 for their kindly consideration in naming some of my specimens. 

 To my chief guide and interpreter, Sigurdur Samarlidason, my 

 unstinted praises are due. He worked assiduously, and, when 

 he fully grasped the character of my undertaking, never wearied 

 of making inquiries wherever we went for information which 

 would be useful to me. To the Icelanders generall3% in those 

 districts I visited, my warmest thanks are given for their courtesy 

 and kindliness ; they all worked heartily to further my interests, 

 their one desire appearing to be to send me back with as perfect 

 a collection as possible. 



The journey has left brilliant memories for me, and I trust 

 that I shall be enabled to redeem my promise, and pay another 

 visit to this paradise of the North. 



•2 K 2 



