Retrofpe? of French Literature—Mifcellanies, 
generally compofed of mountains and 
fteep rocks; but we are affured that it 
a} fo abounds ** with yery beautiful plains 
and valleys, which afford excellent paf- 
turage for the numerous flocks, which 
are to be feen there.”’ On the other hand, 
~the mountains, which are for the moft 
part fterile and uncultivated, prefent their 
{ummits covered continually with {now 
and ice. Many of thefe have volcanges, 
the moft famous of which is that of 
Hecla. 
This has thrown out currents of lava, 
at diiterent epochs, and actually ejected, 
fuch ag amaziag quantity of pumice 
ftones, in 1766, that the fea towards the 
fouth fide, was covered with them to the 
extent of twenty leagues. 
The mougtains, which appear gene. 
rally clothed with ice, are denominated 
Joeckuls. From thefe, during the fum- 
mer, proceed torrents, that not only chill 
the air, but produce a foetid {mell. The 
maritime parts of this ifland appear to be 
better inhabited than the internal portion, 
on account of the prodigious quantity of 
fith which the fea throws on the coatt, as 
well gs for the purpofes of commerce. 
Large maffes af aie are found in 
different parts, as well as cryftals, degpr 
minated after the name of this land. 
The cavities in the mountains contain 
large maffes of fulphur, and the fame fub- 
{tance is alfo difcovered on the plains, 
eovered over witha layer of fand and clay. 
This ifiand produces few or no trees: it 
abounds, however, with briars and juniper 
bufhes ; but thefe not being fufficient tor 
the ufe of the inhabitants, they have re- 
courfe todrift wood, and even to fith bones 
fteeped in the oil of cod’s liver, for fuel. 
As large roots are found ina multitude 
of places, it wouldappear that forefts 
were not formerly unknown. 
Garlick, forrel, and the cochlearia are 
yery common here, and have been fup- 
pofed ferviceable to the health of the in- 
habitants, amidft the hurried mitts of the 
climate. Angelica is alfo produced in 
great plenty, and this plant attains an 
uncommon degree of luxuriance; but the 
moft extraordinary as well as the moft pre- 
cious vegetable which nature confers on 
this region, is a fpecies of mofs, exactly. 
refembling that plant termed by the French 
le pulmonaire, which, on being mixed with 
milk, is converted into a farinaceous fub- 
ftance. In fome houfes it is made into 
broth, and is elteemed very healthy by 
thefe fuppofed to be fkilful. Neither 
pulfe nor fruits are preduced here, the 
701 
climate being two cold; the fame reafon 
holds good in refpeét to grain. 
No wild beafts are ften here, except 
mow and then a bear that is floated from 
Greenland, ona field of ice, and a kind of 
fox, the fkin of which is valuable on ac- 
count of its fur, The breed of horfes is 
extremely fmall, but agile and vigorous, 
and when brought from the mountains at 
five years of age, turn out very fervice- 
able. Sheep are produced in abundance, 
for every farm has its flock. In certain 
places they are allowed to remain eut dur- 
ing the whole year, but the lambs are con. 
ftantly houfed, as they are unable to fup- 
port the intenfe cold: the fleeces are of an 
excellent quality. The cows, which are 
alfo numerous, are at the fame time {mall ; 
we are aflured, however, that they give 
abundance of milk. 
The zame confilts folely of partridges, 
fnipes, and woodcocks ; the firft of thefe 
are white, and as large as thofe found on 
the continent. Eagles, yultures, {parrow- 
hawks, falcons, and owls, are all to be 
met with here. The Iceland falcons, 
when tamed, have always been famous, 
for the purfuit of game. ' 
The edredon, a {pecies of ducks, is fa- 
mous for its feathers; the fwan, the goofe, 
the diver, and in general, every kind of 
frefh or falt water fowl, common to north- 
ern climates abounds here. Fith of all 
kinds, fuch as the herring, the mackarel, 
the fkate, the cray, the plaice, and the 
fole, are caught ; but it isthe cod in par- 
ticular, which is valued by, and plo- 
duces mot profit to, the inhabitants. In 
the lakes are to be feen large trout, in the 
rivers falmon, and in the adjoining fleas 
whales during the fummer feafon. 
The Icelanders are of the ordinary fize, 
but of arobuft temperament. They live fo. 
berly and frugally; they are aiert, well 
pepo eae and nearly all of them have 
ight-coloured ‘hair. After fifty years of 
age, they become fubjett to a variety 
of maladies and infirmities, and moft of 
them die in confeyuence of difeafes of the 
lungs, the fcurvy, and obftru€tians. The 
fhortnefs of their lives is attributed, 
1. To their extreme labour during one 
portion of the year. . 
2. To their fedentary manner of living 
during another. 
3. To the expofure to the elements 
in the ffhirg feafon, on the part of thofe 
who live near the coak; and 
4. To the dampnefs that prevails in the 
valleys, in refpect to thofe who refide in 
the interior. 
During 
