Norðurfari; or, Rambles in Iceland

by Pliny Miles

GENERAL INDEX.

• Adam of Bremen, page [41].
• Ætna, [142], [151].
• Agriculture in Iceland, [178], [303].
• Almannagjá, [73].
• Althing, or Iceland Congress, [42], [45], [78].
• Althing, Journal of, [296].
• America discovered by the Northmen, [36].
• Angelica Archangelica, [125].
• Angling, [78].
• Annexation of an island to Denmark, [148].
• Apavatn Lake, [97].
• Arbrandsá river, [115].
• Arnason, Jon, Librarian of Public Library, [309].
• Atmosphere, its transparency, [141].
• Barrow, the English traveler, [206].
• Bath in the Geyser, [111].
• Beard a protection against the elements, [121].
• Beards worn in Iceland, [60].
• Beards worn by the gods, [249].
• Bessastath, [63].
• Biarni Heriulfson, the First Discoverer of America, [63].
• Birds—the curlew, [169];
  • cormorant, [223];
  • eider-duck, [219];
  • western eider, [221];
  • fulmar, [168];
  • gannet, or solan goose, [31], [224];
  • Iceland gull, [228];
  • skua gull, [228];
  • jer-falcon, [230];
  • white owl, [229];
  • penguin, [222];
  • plover, [169];
  • pochard, [118];
  • ptarmigan, [90];
  • puffin, [163], [168];
  • ravens, [114], [170];
  • sea-fowl on the Westmann Islands, [163];
  • on the coast of Iceland, [198];
  • snow-birds, [226];
  • tern, or sea-swallow, [107], [198].
• Bjarnarfell mountain, [112].
• Bjolfell mountain, [141], [145].
• Blacksmithing, [89].
• Blue berry, the only fruit in Iceland, [157].
• Books published in Iceland, [295].
• Bræthratunga church, [119].
• Brandy, use of it in Iceland, [180].
• Breithifjorth, [313].
• Briem, Rev. Johan, [123].
• Brinjulfsson, Gisli, [311].
• Bruará or Bridge River, [97].
• Bruce’s Address, in Icelandic and English, [286–7].
• Brydone, [93], [135].
• Caraway growing spontaneously in Iceland, [125].
• Cathedral worship in Reykjavik, [306].
• Cattegat, [17], [21], [22], [320].
• Cave in a hill, [96].
• Cave of Surtshellir, [109], [243], note.
• Christianity introduced into Iceland, [82].
• Christiansand, [23], [319].
• Churchyards and burial customs, [178].
• Clays, beautifully colored, [102], [191], [200], [208].
• College at Reykjavik, [57].
• Columbus, his visit to Iceland, [39].
• Copenhagen, [17], [320].
• Craters of Hekla, [138], [143].
• Dancing on ship-board, [317].
• Danish laws in Iceland, [298].
• Danish merchants in Reykjavik, [306].
• Dining on Mount Hekla, [140].
• Diseases in Iceland, [305].
• Domestic animals of Iceland, [55].
• Domestic labor of the Icelanders, [58], [293].
• Eddas, poems of the early Icelanders, [271].
• Edda, the Elder; ascribed to Sæmund Frode, [271].
• Edda, the Younger; ascribed to Snorri Sturlason, [272].
• Egilson, Sweinborn, [52], [308].
• Eider-down beds, [127], [218].
• Elsinore castle and town, [17], [22], [320].
• Eric the Red, [35].
• Ericsson, descendant of Eric the Red, [36].
• Exports of Iceland, [56], [298].
• Eyjafjalla Jokull, [142], [151], [160], [315].
• Farming in Iceland, [179], [182], [303].
• Farming tools, [117].
• Faroe Isles, [24], [25], [233].
• Feasts, in old times, [59].
• Ferryman on the Hvitá river, [185].
• Fish, Iceland method of curing, [215].
• Fishing season in Iceland, [116].
• Fish lake, its disappearance, [152].
• Finn Magnusen, [37].
• Finnsen, William, Treasurer of Iceland, [28].
• Floki, a pirate, [170].
• Flower on Mount Hekla, [136].
• Flowers on a desert island, [121].
• Fourth of July at sea, [23], [24].
• Franklin’s Story of a Whistle, in Icelandic, [289].
• French officers traveling in Iceland, [66], [70], [76], [84].
• French vessel wrecked in Iceland, [315].
• Game in Iceland, [55], [56], [90], [169], [170].
• Gardar Swarfarson, [35].
• Garden vegetables, [62], [179].
• Geimar’s Iceland, Greenland, and Spitzbergen, [317].
• Geographical names and terms, [85].
• Geyser, Eruptions of, [105].
• Geyser, its appearance when still, [100].
• Gissur Thorvaldsen, son-in-law of Snorri Sturlason, [274].
• Graba, a Danish traveler in Faroe, [236].
• Greenland, discovery of, [35].
• Grenadier island, [31], [314].
• Grænavatn, or Green Lake, [142], [201].
• Gudmundsen, Thomas, [175].
• Hacon, King of Norway, [274].
• Hafnarfiorth, [63], [213], [215].
• Hávamál, an Eddaic Poem, [275].
• Haying season, [303].
• Heath, [157], [158], [159].
• Heimskringla, [275].
• Hjalli, [195].
• Hekla, ascent of, [132].
  • Catalogue of its eruptions, [153].
  • its height, [315].
  • its last eruption, in 1845, [134], [138].
  • seen from a distance, [95], [115], [128], [161], [314].
  • View from the summit, [140], [151].
• Helsingborg, [21].
• Herdisa, wife of Snorri Sturlason, [273].
• Hlitharvatn, [198].
• Holland, Dr. 135, [297].
• “Horrible Lava,” 211.
• Horses in Iceland, [65], [116], [129], [298].
• Hospitality of the Icelanders, [197].
• Hot Springs, [187].
• Hraungerthi, [177].
• Hruni, and its hospitable clergyman, [122].
• Hunting sea-fowl in the Westmann islands, [163].
• Hvitá or White river, [118], [119], [185].
• Iceland, its discovery and settlement, [35].
  • its situation and extent, [48].
  • Hymn, Jacob weeping over Rachel, [288].
  • Newspaper, quotation from, [291].
  • Youths educated in France, [316].
• Icelander in the Wars of Napoleon, [293].
• Icelandic language, [270].
• Icelandic poetry, its peculiar construction, [282].
• Imports of Iceland, [56].
• Indians in America in battle with the Icelanders, [38].
• Ingolf, plants the first settlement in Iceland, [35].
• Islands, Sandey and Nesey, in Thingvalla Lake, [92].
• Johnson, Bjarni, President of the Iceland college at Reykjavik, [63], [66], [74], [77], [217].
  • Bjarni, letters from, [300], [307], [309].
  • Misses, [308], [311].
  • Mr. of Hafnarfiorth, [63], [213].
• Jonson, Rev. at Vogsósar, [196].
• Kirkubær, [139].
• Krisuvik, [200].
• Ladies riding on horseback, [91], [215].
• Laugardalr, or Vale of Warm Springs, [94].
• Laugarfjall mountain, [112].
• Laugman, or administrator of the laws, [42].
• Lava, [93], [126], [211].
• Lava from eruption of Mount Hekla, [134], [146].
• Laxá, or Salmon river, [68], [124].
• Lilloise, French vessel lost in the Arctic Sea, [316].
• Lindesness, Cape, [319].
• Literature of Iceland, [52], [270], [281].
• Louis Philippe’s liberality to the Icelanders, [316].
• Markarfliot river, [161].
• Marsh, Hon. Geo. P., opinion of the Icelandic language, [292].
• Meadows in Iceland, [115], [116], [125].
• Meal Sack island, [31], [314].
• Milton’s Paradise Lost, translated by Thorlakson, [53];
  • extracts from, [283].
• Mud Geyser, [206].
• Myggeness island, [236].
• Mythology of the Scandinavians, [242].
  • Index to, [331].
• Myvatn, [203].
• Needles, the, [314].
• Newspapers in Iceland, [296].
• Newspaper, quotation from, [291].
• Næfrholt, [129], [159].
• Norðurfari, [312].
• Norway, coast of, [23], [319].
• Norwegian collectors in Faroe, [240].
• Ornithology of Iceland, [218], [226].
• Petrifactions, [191].
• Pfeiffer, Madam, [95], [123], [161].
• Philmore, Mr., an English traveler, [210].
• Plum-pudding Stone, [199].
• Pope’s Essay on Man, in Icelandic, [53].
  • Quotation from, [285].
• Portland, or Dyarholar, [315].
• Postal arrangements in Iceland, [56].
• Post-ship, time of sailing, [56].
• Products of Iceland, [55], [56], [295], [298].
• Ranthrys, Mr., [308].
• Reindeer in Iceland, [55], [170].
• Reykir Springs, [187].
• Reykjaness Cape, [31], [314].
• Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, [32], [306].
• River of fire, [149].
• Rolling stones down hill, [130].
• Roses in Iceland, [157].
• Sæmund Frode, [271].
• Sagas, historical writings of the Icelanders, [271].
• Scandinavian Commission, [316].
• Scythes used by the Icelanders, [115], [305].
• Sharks, [26].
• Ship from Iceland; the “Saga,” [302].
• Sivertsen, the Misses, and Mr., [308], [311].
• Sivertsen, Mr., jun., [316], [317].
• Skagen Horn, [320].
• Skager Rack, [319].
• Skalds or Minstrels, [42].
• Skalholt, [44], [172].
• Skaptar Jokull, [115], [147], [151].
  • Great eruption of, [147].
• Skarth, [127], [159].
• Sleeping in a church, [127].
• Snæfell Jokull, [151], [313].
• Snorri Thorfinson, first European born in America, [37].
• Snow on Mount Hekla, [137], [146].
• Spallanzani, [135].
• Stapi and basaltic cliffs, [314].
• Steam jet in the Sulphur Mountains, [205].
• Steam power without fuel, [205], [208].
• Stifftamptman, [45].
• Stilhoff, Captain, [318].
• Strandar Kirkja, [197].
• Strokr or New Geyser, [104], [108].
• Submarine eruption, [147].
• Sulphur Mountains, [200]–208.
• Superstition among the Northmen, [195].
• Surtshellir cave, [109], [243], note.
• Sveinson, Jon, [309].
• Swein Ethrithson, [41].
• Swimming a river, [119].
• Sysselman, a merry one, [173].
• Thingvalla, [43], [73], [78].
• Thingvalla Lake, [72].
• Thiorsá river, [115], [126], [159], [172], [315].
• Thorarensen, Rev. S., [177].
• Thorarensen, Stefan, [178], [185].
• Thorlakson, Jon, the Iceland Poet, [53], [281].
• Thorlakson’s Translation of Milton and Pope, [282].
• Thorwaldsen, [37], [52].
• Tindfjalla Jokull, [142], [151], [160], [314].
• Tin Tron, an exhausted crater, [94].
• Torfa Jokull, [314].
• Trade of Iceland; probable results of opening it to the world, [299], [302].
• Trollekone-finger, or Witch’s-finger, in Faroe, [236].
• Trout-fishing in Iceland, [74], [76].
• Vestri Rangá river, [129].
• Vesuvius, [142], [151].
• Vinland, the name given to America by the Icelanders, [37].
• Vogelberg chasm, in Faroe, [237].
• Vogsósar, [196].
• Volcanic island rising from the sea, [147].
• Volcanic sand, [135], [199].
• Voluspá, the song of the Prophetess, [275].
• Westmann Islands, [141], [161], [165], [166].
• Whales, [25], [26].

INDEX
TO THE
Scandinavian Mythology.

• Ægir, the deity of the ocean;
  • a Jötun, [249], [258].
• Æsir, the gods of the Scandinavians, [242], [246], [265].
• Afi, grandfather, and Ammi, grandmother, and their descendants, [268].
• Ai, great grandfather, and Edda, great grandmother, and their descendants, [268].
• Annar, husband of Night, and father of Jörd, [254].
• Arvak and Alsvid, the horses of Sol, [255].
• Asgard, the city of the Æsir, or home of the gods, [246].
• Ask and Embla, the first man and first woman, [268].
• Audhumla, the cow on whose milk Ymir subsisted, [243].
• Baldur the Good, son of Odin, [248], [266].
  • his death, [263].
• Beli, a giant, slain by Frey, [250].
• Bergelmie, a frost-giant, [244].
• Besla, wife of Bör, [243].
• Bifröst the Rainbow, a bridge from earth to heaven, [246].
• Bilskirnir, the mansion of Thor, [248].
• Bör, father of Odin, Vili, and Ve, [243].
• Bragi, the god of Poetry, son of Odin, [249].
• Breidablik, the mansion of Baldur, [248].
• Bur, the father of Bör, [243].
• Castes, or classes in Scandinavian society, [269].
• Day, son of Night and Delling, [254].
• Dwarfs, [253].
• Eir, presides over the art of healing, [252].
• Embla, the first woman, [268].
• Elvidnir, the hall of Hela, [256].
• Fenrir, a wolf, offspring of Loki, [255], [265].
• Fensalir, the mansion of Friga, [252].
• Forseti, the god of Justice, [249].
• Freki and Geri, Odin’s wolves, [246].
• Frey, the son of Njörd and Skadi, [250].
• Frey in battle with Surtur, [265].
• Freyja, daughter of Njörd, and wife of Odur, [250], [252].
• Friga, wife of Odin, [247], [252].
• Fulla, a maid, attendant of Friga, [252].
• Garm, a dog that kills Tyr, [266].
• Gefjon, a maid, attendant of Friga, [252].
• Gerda, one of the most beautiful of women, [250].
• Geri and Freki, wolves of Odin, [246].
• Ginnungagap, the space between the upper and lower worlds, [243].
• Gjallar-horn, the trumpet of Heimdal, [251], [265].
• Gladsheim, Odin’s hall of Justice, [258].
• Gleipnir, a fetter, [255].
• Glitnir, the mansion of Forseti, [249].
• Gna, messenger of Friga, [253].
• Golden Age, [258].
• Gulltopp, the horse of Heimdall, [251].
• Hati and Sköll, two wolves, [255].
• Heimdall, the sentry of the gods, [251], [265], [266].
• Hel or Helheim, the abode of Death, [256–258].
• Hela, or Death, [255], [256].
• Hermod the Nimble, son of Odin, [246], [263].
• Hlidskjalf, Odin’s throne, [246].
• Hnossa, daughter of Odur and Freyja, [252].
• Hodmimir’s forest, where Lif is concealed, [266].
• Hödur, a blind deity, [251], [263], [266].
• Hófvarpnir, the horse of Gna, [253].
• Hrimfaxi, the horse of Night, [254].
• Hringhorn, the ship of Baldur, [263].
• Hugin and Munin, Odin’s ravens, [246].
• Hvergelmir, a fountain in Niflheim, [243], [245].
• Hymir, a giant, [259].
• Hyrrokin, a giantess of Jötunheim, [264].
• Ida, a plain where Asgard formerly stood, [266].
• Iduna, the goddess of Eternal Youth, [249].
• Jötunheim, or land of giants, [245].
• Jötuns, giants of Jötunheim, [245].
• Lif a woman, and Lifthrasir a man, who survive the destruction of the world, [266].
• Lofna, the friend of Lovers, [252].
• Loki, the god of all evil, [255], [259], [263], [265], [266].
• Magni and Modi, sons of Thor, [248], [252], [266].
• Manheim, the home of man, [247], [268].
• Máni, the Moon, [254].
• Midgard, or Mid-earth, [244], [247].
• Midgard serpent, [255], [256], [265].
• Mimir and Mimir’s Well, [245].
• Mjölnir, Thor’s Mallet, [247].
• Modi and Magni, sons of Thor, [248], [252], [266].
• Munin or Memory, one of Odin’s ravens, [246].
• Muspell or Muspelheim, the upper world, [242].
• Mythology of the Northmen, [242].
• Nanna, wife of Baldur, [249], [264].
• Nidhogg, a dragon, [245].
• Niflheim, the lower world, [242].
• Night, the daughter of Njörvi, [254].
• Njord, the ruler of the sea, [250].
• Njörvi, a giant, father of Night, [254].
• Norns, inferior deities, [253].
• ODIN, the supreme head, leader of the Æsir, and father of all the gods, [170], [244], [245], [246], [247], [266].
• Ragnarök, the end of all things, [256], [265].
• Ran, wife of Ægir, [249].
• Ratatösk, the squirrel on the Ash, [245].
• Rinda, the mother of Vali, [251].
• Roskva the Quick, attendant of Thor, [248], [259].
• Saga, the goddess of history, [252].
• Skadi, the wife of Njord, [250].
• Skidbladnir, a famous ship belonging to Frey, [266–7].
• Skinfaxi, the horse of Day, [254].
• Skirnir, messenger of Frey, [250].
• Sköll and Hati, wolves that pursue the sun and moon, [255].
• Sleipnir, the horse of Odin, [246].
• Sokkvabek, the house of Saga, [252].
• Sol, the source of light, [254].
• Surtur, chief of the chaotic demons, [242], [265].
• Surturbrand, or fire of Surtur, [109], [242], note.
• Thjálfi, the Nimble, attendant of Thor, [248], [259].
• Thor, son of Odin, the god of Thunder, [128], [247].
• Thor encounters the Midgard serpent, [262–265], [266].
• Thor’s adventures in Jötunheim, [258], [259], [260], [261].
• Thrudvang, the home of Thor, [248].
• Tyr, the god of Bravery, [255], [259].
• Ullur, the archer, son of Sif, [251].
• Utgard, a city in Jötunheim, [260].
• Utgard-Loki, King of Utgard, [260].
• Valaskjalf, the mansion of Odin, [246].
• Valhalla, the home or world of the slain, [253], [256], [257], [258].
• Vali, son of Odin and Rinda, [251], [252], [266].
• Valkyrjor, the goddesses of Valhalla, [253].
• Vidar the Silent, son of Odin, [251], [252], [266].
• Vigrid, the last battlefield of the gods, [265].
• Vili and Ve, sons of Bör, [244].
• Vora, the punisher of perjured lovers, [252].
• Yggdrasill, the Ash tree, [245].
• Ymir, progenitor of the Frost-giants, [243], [244].

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TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

• Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation have been retained, but obvious typographical errors have been corrected. However, spellings of Icelandic words have been silently regularised, if inconsistent within the text.
• The cover has been created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.