INTRODUCTION. 
XXXIX 
With regard to the amusements of the Ice¬ 
landers they are not of a kind calculated to dis¬ 
pel the gloomy habit which continually hangs 
about them ; and indeed they are now almost 
entirely confined to the reading or repeating one 
to another their ancient sagas: these are the 
delight of the youth as well as of the aged; but 
while the more authentic manuscript histories of 
former times are the means of enabling them to 
retain and speak their language in its almost 
original purity, the mere traditionary ones are 
replete with absurd stories that keep alive a 
love of the wonderful, and impress with super¬ 
stitious notions the minds of almost all the lower 
class of people. In former times wrestling and 
various feats of strength used to occupy their 
attention; chess was much practised; and cards, 
music, and dancing diversified their leisure hours; 
but all these are now scarcely heard of. Their 
attachment to their native land is very strong, 
and might be accounted truly wonderful, since 
the country seems entirely destitute of every 
thing which can add to the comforts of life and 
nearly so of the means of procuring a necessary 
subsistence, were it not that, “ Providence,” as 
Von Troil well remarks, “ has wisely instilled 
into the human heart, the love of that soil 
“ whereon a man is born; and, probably with a 
cc view that those places which are not favored 
