HAUKARDAL. 
143 
children was like that of their parents, and some 
of them had even an equal number of silver 
ornaments; most of them wore the faldur , but 
some of the younger ones had, instead of it, 
small caps of black velvet or cloth, which fit 
close to the head and are tied under the chin, 
ornamented with gold lace, and frequently ter¬ 
minated by a silver gilt knob. Caps like this 
used formerly to be much more generally worn 
by the children than they are at present; and 
it is to be remarked, that not only the cap, but 
th ej'aldur, also, when the wearer is on a jour¬ 
ney, is carefully wrapped round with two or 
more chequered silk handkerchiefs, being pre¬ 
served with the greatest care, as constituting a 
part of their dress, of which the Icelanders are 
particularly proud. Before the commencement of 
service, the priest read prayers to a woman after 
child-birth, who was sitting on a low stool at 
the church door: and this short ceremony was 
concluded by his laying his hands on her as she 
knelt. During the whole time, the woman seemed 
very much affected, and some who were stand¬ 
ing round were extremely attentive. The church 
which (like most others in the island, fronted 
the west) was similar to the one at Thingevalle, 
but more commodious, in having benches instead 
of chests to sit upon. At the time I entered, 
the priest was at the altar, dressed in a long black 
4 
