236 
BORG AFIORD. 
our journey to the hot springs of Snorralang , 
and other remarkable places in the vicinity. 
This excursion was rendered highly interesting 
by my having such agreeable companions, and I 
looked forward with great confidence to deriving 
from it no small information, as well from the 
ability of my host to converse with me in Eng¬ 
lish, as from his perfect knowledge of the coun¬ 
try, and particularly his intimate acquaintance 
with its history, in which he is, perhaps, superior 
to any other person. Our mode of travelling 
here was new to me, and not a little troublesome. 
Being about to visit at the houses of persons 
where the accommodation was good, I had sent 
Jacob and my guide with the horses and tents 
back to Reikevig, intending to return thither 
myself by water; and we all rode the Tatsroed’s 
horses, taking with us a supply of fresh ones 
to relieve those that carried us the first part of 
our journey. These, instead of being led, were 
driven before, without even the precaution of 
fastening them together; a practice to which 
some of them that were young and full of spirit 
did not easily submit; for they frequently strayed 
away from our intended course, and gave the 
Tatsroed’s son, Mr. Olav Stephensen an infinity 
* In naming his children, the Stiftsamptman, as well as 
his sons, have abolished the custom, which is otherwise, I 
believe, very general in Iceland, of-calling the child after 
