144 
HAUKARDAL. 
gown of wadmal, buttoned from top to bottom in 
the fronts black worsted stockings, and seal-skin 
shoes : his hair was hanging down a great length, 
reaching to his shoulders *. The women and 
young children alone sit in the body of the 
church, the men being ranged round the altar, near 
which, also, was reserved a place for Jacob and 
me. It is these latter only that sing, if that mo¬ 
notonous and inharmonious noise which I heard 
on entering may be called singing, where every 
one strained his throat to the utmost, and gave 
out at the same time a most powerful effluvium 
of tobacco juice, which, mixing with the natural 
fish-like smell of the natives, rendered my stay 
among them in such a confined place by no 
means agreeable. As soon as the singing had 
ceased, one of the congregation put upon the 
priest a white surplice of unbleached linen, and 
over that a robe, on which was coarsely embroi¬ 
dered a large figure of a cross. He then chanted 
some prayers from a book, which, with more 
singing, performed sometimes sitting and some¬ 
times standing, lasted about half an hour. Upon 
the altar lay a large snuffbox, a cup, and plate 
* This is the case with all the natives, who consider it 
sinful to shorten the hair which God has caused to grow. 
It is for the same reason, I suppose, that a few, probably of 
the more orthodox, neglect to shave, and rather put up with 
the inconvenience of a long beard. 
