ICELANDERS. 
97 
cation whicli is very unusual among the men even of the highest rank. 
Gills are betrothed as soon as possible, often at three or four years 
of age. 
In the streets the women of rank are always veiled, and then it is 
indecent in any man to accost them. It js likewise uncivil in conver- 
sation to inquire after the wives of any of the company. These, how- 
ever, are not ancient customs, hut consequences of the violences com- 
mitted by the Persians under Shah Nadir. Travellers accuse the 
"Georgians of drunkenness, superstition, and cruelty, sloth, avarice, 
and cowardice, vices which are every where common to slaves and 
tyrants, and are by no means peculiar to the natives of this country. 
Tile descendants of the colonists carried off by Shah Abbas, and set- 
tled in Persia near Ispahan and in Masanderan, have changed their 
character with their government; and the Georgian troops, employed 
in Persia against the Affghans, w^ere advantageously distinguished by 
their docility, their discipline, and their courage. 
Icelanders. 
The modern Icelanders are middle-sized and well made, though 
not very strong; and the women are in general ill-featured. Vices 
are much less common among them, than in any other parts, where 
luxury and riches have corrupted the morals of the people. Though 
their poverty disables them from imitating the hospitality of their an- 
cestors in all respects, yet they continue to shew their inclination to 
it ; they cheerfully give away the little they have to spare, and express 
the utmost satisfaction if strangers are pleased with their gifts. They 
are uncommonly obliging and faithful, and extremely attached to 
government. They are very religious, and thankful for the Divine pro- 
tection, when they escape any dangers. They have an inexpressible 
attachment to their native country, and therefore rarely settle in Co- 
penhagen, though the most advantageous terms should be offered. 
On the other hand, they do not display much ingenuity. They work 
on in the way to which they have been accustomed, without thinking 
of improvements. They are, in conversation, simple and credulous, 
but have no aversion to a bottle, when they have opportunity. 
Their chief pastime consists in reading their history. The master 
of the house begins, and the rest continue in their turn when he is 
tired. Some of them have these stories by heart, others have them 
in print, and others in writing. They are also great players at chess 
and cards for amusement, but never for money. They have made 
little alteration in their dress from what was formerly in use. The 
men wear linen shirts, with short jackets and wide breeches. When 
they travel, another short coat is put over all : the whole is made of 
coarse black cloth, called wadmal, but some wear white cloaks. On 
the head they wear large three-cornered hats, and on their feet Ice- 
land shoes and worsted stockings. Some of them indeed have shoes 
from Copenhagen, but they generally make their own shoes, sometimes 
of the hides of oxen, but oftener of sheep’s leather. They make them 
by cutting a square piece of leather, rather wider than the length of 
the foot ; this they sew up at the toes and behind at the heels, and tie 
