TRAVELS IN ICELAND. 



NATURAL INDUSTRY OF THE ICELANDERS. 



Although the Icelanders cannot procure instruction, like other 

 nations, in the various trades, yet nature lias conferred on some 

 of them sufficient address and genius, to instruct themselves in 

 the manufacture of every sort of household-utensils, whether 

 of copper, iron, wood, or any other material. They succeed 

 well enough for the purposes for which they are intended; but 

 we cannot expect them to be either so well, or so neatly made., 

 as by our workmen, who have served a long apprenticeship- 

 There are some of them, however, who have as much in- 

 genuity as our best mechanics : and there is scarcely a parish, 

 but has one of the Smidours, or men acquainted with every 

 kind of handicraft. They work either in wood or metal, according 

 as they are desired ; but they excel in wooden work, in building 

 houses, in flooring or wainscoting rooms, as well as in manu- 

 facturing every kind of utensils, both large and small ; in making 

 scythes, constructing fishermen's boats tackle, besides many other 

 similar works ; others excel in iron-work, such as small hatchets, 

 saws, large augres, blades for planes, knives, scythes, nails, horse- 

 shoes, locks, keys, traps, and other articles of this description- 

 Others manufacture in copper and brass, various pieces of orna- 

 ment, such as buttons, buckles, women's girdles, rings, the de- 

 corations of saddles and harness, &c. Lastly, there are some, 

 who work very neatly in silver : they make various decorations 

 for females, partly polished, partly embossed and chased, buttons, 

 sheaths, handles for knives, &c. &c. Although the inhabitants 

 of the district of Kiosar have not much occasion for these articles 

 of luxury, yet they have among them Smidours, who are every 

 way capable of manufacturing them as well as the other things 

 above-mentioned. There are, however, various articles of iron, 

 sent by merchants to Iceland, such as large anvils, saws, hammers, 

 shoes for horses, &c. They have a ready sale, because every 

 thing is better wrought, and is sold at a lower price than what 

 is made in the country; but it must be at the same time de- 

 clared, that the articles manufactured by the Icelanders are far 

 more solid than those which are imported. These people are 

 likewise extremely expert in inventing traps, snares, and hooks, 

 for catching foxes, sea-dogs, birds, and salmon. 



COMPUTATION OF TIME, OR ICELAND CALENDAR. 



The computation and division of time into years, and months, 

 is of great antiquity among the Icelanders; though this knowledge 

 has been acquired by them from other nations : at present we 

 .shall only notice the manner adopted by the country people for 



