Ultima Thule; or, A Summer in Iceland. vol. 1/2

by Sir Richard Francis Burton

African lakes, re-discovery of the, i. [29].
Agriculture, state of, i. [179-189].
Almannagjá, the, ii. 198.
Alpen-glow, the, i. [68].
Althing, re-establishment of the, i. [103];
biennial, [106].
American gift to Iceland, ii. 327.
Amulet with Runes, ii. 118.
Antiquarian Museum, an, ii. 10, [13-23].
Anthropology, i. [122].
Art in Iceland, i. [160].
Arthur’s Seat, view of, from Firth of Forth, i. [270].
Aurora Borealis, the, i. [67].
Bede on Iceland, i. [31].
Berufjörð fisheries, ii. 234.
Berserkir, derivation of, ii. 100.
Black death, the, i. [100].
Blake, C. C., on human remains from Iceland, ii. 214;
on sulphur, [352].
Bogs of Iceland, i. [51].
Books on Iceland criticised, i. [369].
Boxes for travel, ii. 41.
Breiðalsheiði, top of the, ii. 249.
“Brimstone” on the sulphur diggings, ii. 301;
his unfairness, [302].
Broad-Shouldered, the, ii. 265.
Bruce, James, and the Nile sources, i. [22].
Buchan, A., on the climate of Stykkishólm, i. [63].
Bunsen’s division of Iceland rocks, i. [38].
Caithness, shores of, from the sea, i. [275].
Calabrian earthquake, the, i. [48].
Casaubon, Isaac, on Thule, i. [7].
Catholicism in Iceland, i. [100].
Cattle of Iceland, i. [186]; ii. 53.
Character of the Icelander, i. [137-141].
Charnock’s, Dr Richard S., note on the Culdees, i. [28];
on Thule, [33].
Christ and Thor, i. [94].
Christian IX. and the Millenary Festival, i. [109].
Chronometry, i. [70].
Clay of Iceland, i. [51].
Cleanliness, i. [136].
Climate of Iceland, i. [55];
effect of Gulf Stream on, [56];
wholesomeness of, [66].
Coal and peat, i. [294].
Cavalcade, a, ii. 39.
Coal in Iceland, i. [377].
Cockney sportsman, a, i. [316].
Cod-fishing, i. [192], [193].
Constable, the head, i. [358].
Coinage, the, i. [215-218].
Commerce, i. [219-224].
Cowie, Dr Robert, on pre-historic remains found in Shetland, i. [300-306].
Culdees, the, note, i. [28], [29].
Danes, the, and home rule in Iceland, i. [105].
Danish Government, the, i. [378-380].
Days, Icelandic names for, i. [73].
Denmark and the annexation of Iceland, i. [99].
Desolate prospect, a, ii. 324.
Diseases, i. [151-155].
Divisions of Iceland, i. [116], [117].
Divorce, an easy method of, i. [151].
Doomsday Book of the North, the, i. [27]; ii. 50.
Dress, styles of, i. [147].
Drunkenness in Iceland, i. [359-362].
Duncansbay Head, i. [274], [278].
Eddas, the, i. [95].
Edinburgh, defenceless state of, i. [270].
Education, i. [155-162].
Eider down, the, i. [201], [202].
Eider duck, the, ii. 45, [46], [112].
Emigration, i. [208].
Epitaph, a model, i. [137].
Eyjarbakka-vatn, ii. 321.
Færoe Islands, the, dulness of, i. [299].
Fair Isle, i. [308].
Family, the, i. [148-151].
Farewell to Edinburgh, a, i. [267].
Farm-house, a, i. [145];
a rough, ii. 288.
Finance of Iceland, i. [110-112].
Fish diet for brain-workers, i. [190].
Fisheries, i. [189-198].
Fjörðs, the, popular theory about, i. [49].
Flora of Iceland, i. [175-79].
Fox, the, i. [170].
Foula, the island of, i. [22], [309].
Funeral customs, i. [372].
Gare-fowl, the, ii. 228.
Genesis and geology, i. [35].
Geysir, the, i. [55], [319], ii. 169;
Bunsen on, [177];
Werner and Baring-Gould on, [178];
decline of the, [183];
description of, in eruption, [184-191];
a new Geysir, [222].
Granton, i. [269];
compared with Reykjavik, [269];
the central quay, [269];
farewell to group of friends, [269].
Guide, the pretty, ii. 27;
guides, [29];
a bad, [214].
Gulf Stream, the, i. [56].
Hafnafjörð, ii. [87-89].
Hakon of Norway and the liberty of Iceland, i. [98].
Hay-harvest, the, ii. 245.
Hay-making, i. [148].
Hekla, i. [315];
exaggeration of former travellers, ii. 161;
ascent of, [162];
sayings about, [164].
Hel-viti, gate of, ii. 164.
Herðubreið, view of, from north, ii. 305;
volcano of, [308];
ascent of, given up, [311].
Henchel’s report on the Icelandic sulphur mines, ii. [329-343].
High school, deficiency of education in, ii. 5;
method of teaching, [6];
theological school, [7].
Hindús, faith of the, i. [93].
Historical notes, i. [78].
Hjaltalín, Jón A., on the Danish chronicles, i. [83];
on finance, [110].
Horse, use of, by Icelanders, ii. 33.
Human and other remains in Iceland, paper on, ii. [212-220].
Hydrography, i. [53];
names of rivers and lakes, [54], [55].
Inchkeith, i. [270].
Intermarriage, i. [135].
Iron-ore, presence of, i. [205].
Itinerary from Reykjavik to Hekla and the Geysir, ii. [201-211];
from Berufjörð to Mý-vatn, [271].
Johnston, Mr Keith, on volcanic eruptions, i. [44].
John o’ Groats, i. [275].
Jökulsá River, the, ii. 268;
view of from Herðubreið, [309].
Judicial procedure, i. [120].
Kerguelen on the trade of Iceland, i. [228].
Kincardineshire, coast of. i. [272].
Kirkjubæ, ruins of, i. [298].
Kirkwall visited, i. [282].
Kissing, the custom of, i. [160].
Krísuvík sulphur diggings, the, ii. [133-135];
paper on, by C. W. Vincent, [135-153].
Landnámabók, the, i. [27];
extracts from, [78], [79], ii. 50.
Laug, the, or reeking spring, ii. 51.
Lakes, the, of Iceland, i. [54].
Law, meaning of, i. [271].
Ledge-springs, the, ii. 294.
Leirhnúkr, sulphur springs at, ii. 282.
Lemprière on Thule, i. [10].
Leprosy, prevalence of, i. [153].
Lerwick, i. [281].
Lich-gate, the, i. [349].
Literature on Iceland, i. [235-260];
in Iceland, ii. 2.
Little Hell, ii. 283.
Livingstone familiarly known in Iceland, i. [367].
Lock, A. G., and the sulphur diggings, ii. 297.
“Lord Kilgobbin,” description of moors and bogs in, i. [293].
Macculloch on Palagonite, i. [38].
Magnus, Cathedral of St, i. [282].
Magnusson on human remains in Iceland, ii. 218.
Maori proverb, a, ii. 288.
Maps of Iceland, i. [252].
Marriage, a check to, i. [148];
customs at feast, ii. 314, [315].
Medicine, the study of, ii. 6.
Mela on Thule, i. [7].
Merchant, the general stock kept by, i. [233].
Millenary Festival, the, i. [109].
Model farm, a, ii. 266.
Months, names of the, in Iceland, i. [71].
Moss, Iceland, i. [203], ii. 75.
Mountains of Iceland, altitude of the, i. [41], [42].
Mud-springs, ii. 296.
Mý-vatn, the solfatara of, ii. 279;
sport at, [280].
Napoleon, Prince, his expedition to Iceland, i. [38].
Newspapers in Iceland, ii. 1.
Northmen, character of the, i. [138].
Norwegians, the, peopling of Iceland by, i. [88].
Obsidian, where found, ii. 285.
Old Man of Hoy, the, i. [280].
Orcadian minister, prayer by, i. [279].
Palagonite, the, of Iceland, i. [35-38].
Papæ;, the, i. [27];
Dasent’s remarks on, [28], ii. 310.
Peat and coal, i. [294].
Peewits, ii. 46.
Pentland Skerries, the, i. [276];
Firth, the, [276].
Personal appearance of Icelanders, i. [132], [133].
Physical geography of Iceland, i. [35].
Picture, an Icelandic, described, ii. 16.
Piracy, the practice of, i. [89].
Pliny on Thule, i. [8].
Political geography, i. [113].
Population of Iceland, i. [115], [124-129].
Ponies, export of the, i. [224], ii. 30;
prices of the, [31];
method of riding, [37];
difficulties in shoeing, [39];
method of putting on board, [44].
Postal arrangements, i. [200], [201], [223].
Printing presses, number of the, ii. 2.
Professions, i. [162-169].
Prudentius Aurelius on Thule, i. [3].
Ptolemy on Thule, i. [9].
Radical Road (Arthur’s Seat), i. [270].
Raven, the, ii. 243.
Reformation, the, its effect on the national mind, i. [238], [374], [375].
Reindeer, the, i. [170].
Reykholt Kirk, Inventory of, ii. 70.
Reykir, ii. 157.
Reykjanes, i. [318], [322], [323].
Reykjahlíð Church, ii. 286.
Reykjavik, i. [59];
appearance of, from the sea, [325];
description of, [326-380];
Sunday in, [348], [357];
trades and professions, [363];
riding saddles, ii. 41;
fishermen of, [44];
the pier, [45].
Road-making in Iceland, i. [52].
Roc, the, ii. 228.
Romans, the, their knowledge of Iceland, i. [21];
remains of, [30].
Ronaldshaw, i. [278].
Runic writing, i. [288];
alphabet, explanation of, [288].
Sagas, the, i. [95], [131];
a Saga hero realised, ii. 325.
Salmon fishing, the, i. [194], [197];
salmon ground, ii. 59.
Scandinavian curse, a, ii. 105;
savage punishments by, [106].
Sand pillars, ii. 270.
Schools in Iceland, ii. 4.
Seal, the, ii. 242.
Seneca on Thule, i. [2].
Servius on Thule, i. [2].
Shaffner, Colonel, and Atlantic telegraphy, ii. 73.
Shark, a dead, ii. 237.
Shark-hunting, ii. 236.
Sheep, i. [186].
Shetland, life in, i. [295];
Shetlanders, personal appearance of the, [295].
Sibbald, Sir Robert, on Thule: a part of Great Britain, i. [11].
Simpson, Sir James, his archæological researches, i. [279].
Skálds, the, i. [97];
poetry of, [237].
Skaptárjökull, eruption of the, i. [46].
Sledging, ii. 260.
Smallpox, ravages of the, i. [152].
Smoking, in and out of fashion, i. [362].
Snæ-land, on the meaning of, i. [76].
Snæfell, i. [323], ii. 78, [96].
Snakes, on the absence of, from Iceland, i. [173].
Snuff boxes, the manufacture of, ii. 16.
Society, i. [141-148].
Solan goose, the, i. [317].
Spinning, i. [198].
Stonehenge, a theory concerning, ii. 106.
Stone of Iceland, i. [51].
Stone implements found in Iceland, ii. 20.
Stone weapons, ii. 20.
Store, the, i. [225].
Strabo on Thule, i. [3].
Strokkr, the, ii. 181.
Stromness, museum at, i. [290].
Stykkishólm, climate of, i. [63], ii. 101.
Sulphur, i. [171];
diggings, the, [171];
at Krísuvík, ii. 133, [135];
disused, [292];
mountain, [295];
pure, [295];
commercial value of, [296];
diggings leased by Mr Lock, [297];
importation of, [299];
prospects of trade in, [300].
Sulphur in Iceland, ii. 329;
mines at Krísuvík, 329;
at Mý-vatn, 335;
at Hlíðarnámar, 340;
Theystarreykja mines, 340;
refining of the sulphur, 342;
Sir G. S. Mackenzie on, 344;
Consul Crowe’s report on, 345;
Captain Burton’s notes on Mr Vincent’s paper on, 348;
C. C. Blake on, 352;
leasing contract for, 378;
report of the Althing on, 381;
in Sicily, 390;
on Red Sea, 400;
in Transylvania, 400;
in Andaman Islands, 402.
Sunday in Iceland, i. [348].
Service in church, i. [352], [353], [357].
Swan, song of the, ii. 313.
Taxation, i. [119], [209], [215].
Taylor’s “Etruscan Researches” criticised, ii. 107.
Telegraphy, ii. 73.
Tents for travel, ii. 43.
Theology, the study of, ii. 7.
Things, the, i. [90-92].
Thingvallavatn Lake, ii. 193.
Thor and Christ, i. [94].
Thorvaldsen an Icelander, i. [350], [351].
Thule, of, i. [1];
princess of, and king of, [1];
political and rhetorical, [1], [2];
Strabo, Mela, Pliny, and Ptolemy on, [3-11];
part of Great Britain, [11-23];
as Scandia, [23-25];
as Iceland, [25-32];
etymology of, [32].
Tom Noddy, the, i. [316].
Trades in Iceland, i. [125].
Trout fishing, about, i. [197].
Tyndall, Professor, on Palagonite, i. [37];
on the Mer de Glace, [43];
on active volcanoes, [49].
Vatnajökull, crossing of the, ii. 231;
view of the, [258];
sudden fogs on the, [315].
Vesuvius, eruption of, i. [47].
Virgil on Thule, i, [2].
Volcanic ashes, i. [50].
Wallace, the, of Iceland, ii. 124.
Waterproof for Iceland, note, i. [261].
Watts, Mr, on the Vatnajökull, ii. 232.
Weaving, i. [198].
Weights and measures, the national, i. [215], [218].
Wild oats, story regarding, in Iceland, ii. 296.
Windmill, a, ii. 233.
Yankee traveller, the, i. [356].
Zoological notes and sport, i. [169-175].

FOOTNOTES:

[1] “Mirum de Tyle, quæ inter occidentales ultima fertur insulas, quod apud orientales tam nomine quam naturâ sit famosissima; cum occidentalibus sit prorsus incognita,” says Giraldus Cambrensis, chap. xvii., p. 98, ed. T. F. Dimock, M.A., Lond. 1867.

[2] The Iernis of Onomacritus (who is supposed to have written about B.C. 535, in the days of Pisistratus). Its authenticity is defended by Ruhnkenius (Epist. Crit. 2), and by Archbishop Usher (Ecclesiar. Antiq., chap. 16), while Camden (Britan.) has claimed the island to be England. Adrian Junius, a Dutch poet of the sixteenth century, quoted by Moore (History, chap. 1), thus alluded to Ireland having been known to the Argonauts:

“Illa ego sum Graiis olim glacialis Ierne
Dicta, et Jasoni puppis bene cognita navis.”

We shall afterwards find Sibbald identifying Ierne with Strathearn.

[3] Consult the paper “On the Stade as a Linear Measure” by W. Martin Leake, Esq., Journal of the R.G.S., vol. ix. of 1839, pp. 1-25. The word Stadium or Stade does not appear in the index of the first twenty volumes; and this is only one instance of the carelessness with which an essential addition to the Journal has been drawn up.

[4] We may ask in our turn what prevented him travelling with traders?

[5] Hipparchus ad Arat. (i. 5; confer Plut., iii. 17), also attests the scientific worth of Pytheas, and mentions how he explained the tides by lunar phases.

[6] See Rerum Script. Hiberniæ (Prolog., i., xii.), quoted at the end of this section. Of Pytheas we know little, except that he was a Phocæan or Massilian Greek, who is supposed to have made two voyages between B.C. 350 and B.C. 300. In the first, he sailed round Albion and reached Thule. In the second, he set out from Gadira (Cadiz) to the Tanais, which is popularly supposed to have been the Elbe. Both his works, “On the Ocean,” and the “Periplus,” are lost. Even Strabo, who seems to have had “that charlatan Pytheas on the brain,” does not deny his knowledge of astronomy, mathematics, and navigation. G. G. Bredow (Untersuchungen, etc., ii. 122-129, Altona, 1800), C. H. Tzschuckius (P. Melæ, lib. tres, Lipsiæ, 1806, vol. iii., pp. 223-230), and J. I. Pontanus (Chorographica Daniæ Descriptio, Amstelodami, 1631, folio, p. 741), give many references to Pytheas. See also Histoire Littéraire de France, i. 71, et seq.; Bougainville (Mémoires de Paris, xix. 146); D’Anville (Mém. de Paris, xxxii. 436, and his objections to the traveller having visited Iceland, 50, 441); Murray (Nov. Comm. Soc. Goetting, vi. 59-63, 82-86); Fournier (Hydrographie, 322, et seq.); and Wagner (Ad Guthrie Allgem. Welt. Gesch., xvi. 4). Forbiger (Handbuch der Alt. Geog., iii., Leip. 1848) also quotes a multitude of authors, including Mannert, Humboldt, and Lelewel (Pytheas u. die Geo. Sein. Zeit., s. 30).