TRAVELS IN ICELAND. 



99 



of them were convicted of practising sorcery, while there is no 

 doubt that several were perfectly innocent. At length the per- 

 sons of authority in the country began to see the odious nature 

 of the laws in question ; and in 16'QO there was notified to the 

 tribunals of the country a decree from the king, commanding 

 that the proceedings against every person accused of sorcery 

 should be laid before his majesty for revision, previous to pas- 

 sing sentence. 



WHALE-HUNTING. 



In this part of Iceland they often hunt the whales in such a 

 manner as to drive them on shore, where they are killed. The 

 flesh of this fish has by no means a disagreeable taste, but is 

 very similar to beef ; and the young whales of the species which 

 are good to eat, even have a very delicate flavour. Its fat, 

 after being salted down, is used for the same purposes as lard ; 

 to which it is preferable, both in point of taste and because it 

 will keep for four or live years. 



Although the Icelanders have at their choice many isles which 

 afford a great variety of productions, it must at the same time 

 be admitted that they are very laborious and vigorous ; and that 

 they understand domestic economy in a wonderful degree, much 

 more so indeed than many other nations could do if placed in a 

 similar situation. They are besides very sober; and clean in the 

 preparation of their food and utensils, a circumstance which rarely 

 occurs among fishermen by profession. To their praise it must 

 be added, that they are very hospitable towards strangers, as well 

 As to the inhabitants of the interior of the islands, who come to 

 trade with them, or to pass the Gulf of Breedfiord. It fre- 

 quently happens that seven or eight strangers meet together at 

 one time in the houses of these people, and remain with them 

 for a week together, on account of the badness of the weather. 

 As soon as they arrive, the generous cottagers dry their clothes, 

 and lodge and feed them with the greatest pleasure ; while in the 

 evenings they amuse them by reciting historical anecdotes, or 

 playing with them at chess, to pass away the time as agreeably 

 as possible. When the strangers set off, they constantly refuse all 

 kind of payment whatever ; but if they are obliged to undertake 

 the passage with them, in their canoes, they then accept of a liberal 

 compensation for their labour and time. Hospitality is, how- 

 ever, the characteristic of the whole country ; even to such a 

 degree, that when a traveller puts up any where for the night, 

 they do not require any thing of him either for his supper Or 

 his bed. This friendly disposition is carried so far in the juris- 

 diction of Bardestrand, that when a stranger enters a house be- 

 fore dinner, or in the middle of the day, simply to rest himself^ 



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