REIKEVIG. 
33 
Danish government. He is a stout and hand¬ 
some man, and wears black clothes, with half¬ 
boots. His hair is remarkable for being almost 
white, though not from age, as he is not more 
than forty-five. Both he and his lady are native 
Icelanders; the latter dresses in the true Ice¬ 
landic fashion, and, indeed, her full dress is 
extremely rich and handsome. The bishop’s 
library is almost continually filled with visitors, 
being the principal place of resort for those who 
are desirous of studying, and who here alone 
have the advantage of a good collection of books: 
among other men of learning, I used frequently 
to meet here Magnus Finnusen, an excellent 
scholar as well as a good poet. I was indebted 
to him for a present of many Icelandic books, 
one of which Had for its title, the Georgies of 
Iceland * ! It is considered a scarce book, and a 
fine poem; though, as the Tatsroed told me, 
* My ignorance of the Icelandic language rendered me, 
unfortunately, unable to read this book, which must have 
been a matter of considerable curiosity, unless, indeed, it was 
altogether fictitious; as the Icelanders have no husbandry 
whatever to employ them, or to be sung about, except the 
care of their cattle. The author of this work, which, by the 
bye, is but a small one, could not begin with the words 
of Virgil, 
“ Quid faciat laetas segetes, quo sidere terram 
“ Vertere, Maecenas, ulmisque adjungere vites 
D 
