I BUY TWENTY-SIX HORSES. 
39 
appears that what with the photographic apparatus, 
which I am anxious to take, and our tent, it would 
be impossible to do with fewer animals. The price 
of each pony is very moderate, and I am told I shall 
have no difficulty in disposing of all of them, at the 
conclusion of our expedition. 
These preliminaries happily concluded, Mr. 3—— 
invited us into his house, where his wife and daughter 
—a sunshiny young lady of eighteen—were waiting to 
receive us. As Latin here was quite useless, we had to 
entrust Sigurdr with all the pretty things we desired 
to convey to our entertainers; but it is my firm opinion 
that that gentleman took a dirty advantage of us, and 
intercepting the choicest flowers of our eloquence, appro¬ 
priated them to the advancement of his own interests. 
However, such expressions of respectful admiration as 
he suffered to reach their destination were received very 
graciously, and rewarded with a shower of smiles. 
The next few days were spent in making short expe¬ 
ditions in the neighbourhood, in preparing our baggage 
train, and in paying visits. It would be too long for 
me to enumerate all the marks of kindness and hospi¬ 
tality I received during this short period. Suffice it to 
