REYKHOLT. 
251 
taking its rise from Fiske-vatn, empties itself 
into Borgafiord. In our way we called at the 
house of a peasant, a skilful workman in wood 
and silver, of whom I wished to procure some 
snuffboxes made of the tooth of the Walrus, 
called by the Icelanders Rostungr , (Trichecus 
Rosmarus Linn.), an animal that is not un~ 
frequently cast on shore in the northern part of 
the island, where the teeth, (on account of their 
beauty and whiteness, in which circumstances 
they are quite equal to the best ivory) are eagerly 
sought after and collected for the purpose of 
being converted into snuffboxes. These are 
prettily ornamented with sil¬ 
ver, variously disposed in hi- 
lagree work, and are used by 
people of rank, particularly 
by the ladies. Of such snuff¬ 
boxes the contents are in¬ 
haled in the same way, as of 
those noticed in the early part 
of this journal; but, as their 
shape is different, and I was 
so fortunate as to preserve 
(together with my Icelandic 
dress) one of them which 
was given me by the Tats- 
roed’s lady, I have thought 
it deserving of being figured. 
