52 
VIDOE. 
till their return to their country, by Sir Joseph 
Banks’ generosity. London, he observed, might 
produce as good a man, but it could not produce 
a better. When we asked him to return to 
England with us, he said, he would, if he were 
but ten years younger, were it only to see 
Baron Banks. He was delighted with the pre¬ 
sents from Sir Joseph, and especially with some 
fine engravings of the Geysers, taken from 
drawings made by Sir John Stanley, in 17 89 . 
This gentleman the Stiftsamptman frequently 
mentioned, and I was vexed that my not having 
the honor of being acquainted with him pre¬ 
vented my answering many questions, that were 
put to me respecting him. During our conversa¬ 
tion, some rum and Norway biscuit were offered 
us, and we then took a little walk about the island, 
which is scarcely more than two miles in circum¬ 
ference, and is one of the most fertile spots 
belonging to Iceland, producing some of the 
best sheep, besides excellent cows, horses, peat, 
and good water. We were shown with great plea¬ 
sure the immense number of eider ducks which 
breed on Vidoe, and which were now sitting 
on eggs or young ones, exhibiting a most in¬ 
teresting scene. The Stiftsamptman made us 
go and coax some of the old birds, who did not 
on that account disturb themselves. Almost 
every little hollow place, between the rocks, is 
