Chapter VII: was written, that I learned a most interesting thing about

this river so famous in Icelandic history. It seems that in ancient days the river followed a natural channel near the ridge that rises above the heath near _Kárastaðir_. It did not enter the lake, _Thingvallavatn_, by the way of _Almannagjá_ as it does to-day.

The Vikings dispatched _Geitskour_ in 965 throughout the country to choose a suitable place for the meeting of the _Althing_. After a summer of travel he chose this sunken valley and named it _Thingvallir_. The Vikings then turned the river from its ancient bed and caused it to tumble into this rift. What joy there must have been in the hearts of those sturdy old fellows as they stood on the opposite wall and watched the torrent make its first plunge into the abyss! Hence _Axe River_, the river whose channel was fashioned by their axes.

* * * * *

Page 92,—_Measuring Stone_:—Various authors have perpetuated the story of this peculiar stone, as given in Chapter VII, that stands in the church yard at _Thingvellir_. They tell us, and so do the guides, that it was the standard of measurement adopted by an ancient _Althing_, from which all linear measures in the country were taken.

Since writing Chapter VII, I have had another opportunity, in 1913, to examine this stone with more care. I emphatically state that it was not made by the hand of man and that the so-called “measuring marks” on it are nothing but steam holes blown through it by the great pressure when the stone was molten and cooling. The stone has been split open and the marks have the appearance of having been placed there by man. To further substantiate this I would refer to the fact that in 1913 Mr. J. C. Angus of York, England, and myself saw numerous blocks of lava in various places at _Mývatn_ with identical markings. Mr. Angus fully agrees with me in the above statement about the “measuring stone.”

Further, if the people who examine this stone in the future will go around it, examine it on all sides and near the ground they will find actual holes that penetrate deeply into the stone in several places. These have evidently escaped the eyes of those who like to point to this as the “first standard of linear measurement ever prepared by the people of northern Europe.” It is a pretty story and affords the guides a lot of amusement,—but _facts are facts_.

* * * * *

Page 104,—_Brúará_:—There is another story differing from the one I gave in Chapter VIII, though that one is correct, relative to the way in which this river received its name of Bridge River. In the old days there was a natural lava arch spanning the stream just below the site of the present bridge. The story relates that a woman on the side of the river nearest to _Geysir_ was widely known for her hospitality. In those days it was the custom of the people to go “guesting” in the autumn and stay until spring. The _Sagas_ are replete with such incidents.

At length this good lady became weary because of the large number of her uninvited guests from across the river. She dispatched two of her thralls in the autumn to break down the lava arch. This they did but they both lost their lives in the flood when the arch fell. The natural arch gave this stream the name of Bridge River. The illustration facing page 114 was taken from the present bridge.

* * * * *

Page 134,—_Galtalaekur_:—During the severe earthquake that preceded the eruption of _Hekla_ in the latter part of April 1913 these ancient buildings were entirely demolished. It was one of the oldest of Icelandic turf houses. It has sheltered nearly all the people who have ascended _Hekla_ for many generations.

* * * * *

Page 215,—_Skútustaðir_:—This should be derived, not from the Icelandic _skúti_, cave, but from an old Viking who settled here by the name of _Skúti_. I am indebted for this correction to Thorður Floventsson of _Svatákot_.

* * * * *

Page 216,—_Kraká_:—This word is more correctly derived from the Icelandic _Kraká_, the name of a witch. In Chapter XIII I derived it from _kraki_, crow or raven. The following story was related to me in 1913, while struggling along its boggy margin by my guide, Ólafur Eyvindsson.

“There was a witch by the name of _Kraká_ who lived in the mountains up the valley. She became angry with a farmer over a piece of fine meadow land which he refused to convey to her under any condition. Thereupon she threatened to destroy it if he did not yield at once. He remained obstinate. Soon a river poured out from the mountains, laid waste the farm and flooded the great meadow, as may be seen to this day, especially if the traveller goes from _Skútustaðir_ to _Svatákot_, Black-River-Farm, as we are now doing. In this instance his route will be across _Graenavatn_, Green-Lake.”

_Graenavatn_ is a mighty meadow with water over all of it, but so shallow that the grass stands in most places out of the water. It is only along the edge of the river, _Kraká_, where the water has thrown up the black sand, that it is possible for ponies to proceed.

* * * * *

_Railway_:—I have seen several paragraphs going the rounds of the American press relative to a railroad in Iceland. I had a chance to ride on this railroad in 1913. It is less than two miles in length. It is merely an improvised affair to transport rocks from the quarry to the two great breakwaters that are being built to protect the harbor of _Reykjavik_.

There is some discussion in the _Althing_, (winter of 1914,) about the construction of a railway from _Reykjavik_ into the rich grazing land near _Eyrarbakki_. At the present writing nothing definite has been done. It seems that it would be unwise to employ steam and ship the coal from Scotland, when an electric road can be made much more cheaply and there is such an abundance of water power for electricity.

INDEX

A

Aasberg, 35

Aberdeen, 35

Aegean, 32

_Áhver_, 296

_Akureyri_, 70, 203, 204, 207, 208, 215, 243, 245, 282

Alexander, 198

Alfred, 18

Algeria, 294

Algiers, 50, 51, 53

_Almannagjá_, 87, 91, 93, 94, 98

Alphonse of Castile, 294

_Althing_, 25, 64

America, 23, 34, 48, 61, 80, 114, 115, 138, 164, 168, 192, 212, 233, 240

Arabs, 215

Arbo, 65

Arctic Club, 151, 233

Ari, the Wise, 28

Arge, Peter, 39, 40, 46

_Ármannsfell_, 88, 89, 93

_Arnavatn_, 257, 276

Arrhenius, 238

_Ask_, 184, 188

_Askja_, 198, 285

Auth, 20

B

Bache, 65

Baedeker, 65

_Baegisá_, 247

_Baegisádalr_, 247

Bagge, 51

Baldar, 298

Baltic, 62

Barbary, 29, 50

_Barnafoss_, 288, 289

Baðstofa, 141

Belgium, 71

Benidiktsson, V., 198

Bergman, 238

Bergthora, 207

Berlin, 203, 237

_Berufjörðr_, 51, 187

Berzelius, 238

Bibliography, 29, 30

_Bihólsfjall_, 194

_Biskuptúngur_, 121

Bjarnafell, 103

Björnsson, G., 63

_Blandá_, 259

_Blesi_, 110, 113

_Bolstaðarhlið_, 258

Borg, 252, 291, 293

Boston, 63

_Botnia_, 185, 200, 202, 204, 237

Brattleboro, Vt., 136

_Breiðifjörðr_, 20

British Isles, 31

_Brúará_, 102

Bruges, 275

Brunnar, 288

Brussels, 65

Bryant-Melville Cask, 198

_Burnt Njal_, 22, 25, 28, 48, 89, 93-95, 137, 154, 158, 207

Burton, Capt., 153

Byzantium, 23

C

Caine, Hall, 83, 92

Cathedral, 65

_Ceres_, 180, 181

Cicero, 32

Coffee, 106

Connecticut, 275

Constantinople, 31, 294

Copenhagen, 28, 34, 67-69, 163, 180

Creameries, 158

D

Danes, 51, 106, 163, 244

Dasent, 22, 28

Denmark, 14, 28, 29, 38, 39, 41, 64, 68, 80, 89, 115, 127, 158, 172,
188, 192, 204, 240

_Dettifoss_, 119, 171, 213, 235

Dickens, 267

Dicuilus, 20

_Djúpá_, 209, 213

Dogs, 236

_Drangey_, 257, 258, 260

Driftwood Bay, 198

Dublin, 20

Dufferin, Lord, 103

E

Eastfirthers, 25

Edinburgh, 63, 136

Einarr, 262

_Eiðisvik_, 196

Eldborg, 172, 175

_Elliðaár_, 78

Emerson, 66

_Engey_, 179, 180

England, 17, 20, 28, 29, 41, 50, 64, 71, 80, 85, 91, 158, 159, 163

Ere-Dwellers, 27

Eric, 14

Erybyggja Saga, 20, 26

_Esja_, 74, 75, 79, 176

_Eskifjörðr_, 184-186, 222

Ethelred, 23

Europe, 17, 66, 70, 96, 114, 136, 138, 169, 179

_Eyjafjalla_, 48

_Eyjafjörðr_, 20, 203, 253

_Eyrarbakki_, 161, 162

_Eyriks Jökull_, 277, 279, 280, 289

Eyvindsson, Ólafur, 6, 78, 129, 204, 227, 238, 252, 256, 260, 277, 278,
286, 290

F

_Faroe_, 17, 18, 36, 37, 41, 43, 45, 56, 184, 192, 196, 197, 295

_Faskrudsfjörðr_, 184, 187, 201

Fata Morgana, 162

Faxa, 18

_Faxafjörðr_, 18, 59, 63, 79, 176

Finland, 268

_Flatey_, 203

_Fljótsheiði_, 213

Floki, 17, 18

Flosi, 48, 93, 94

_Flosigjá_, 96

_Fnjóská_, 206-208

Forests, 102

_Fram_, 198

France, 20, 29, 31, 41, 64, 71, 111, 138, 188, 189

Frederick, Emperor, 294

Frederick, King, 89, 102, 121, 122, 158, 159

Fridtjof, 200

Friedeberg, Walter, 202

Frigga, 21, 250

Fru Neilsin, 162, 163

_Fuglasker_, 58

G

_Galtalaekur_, 134, 141, 148, 157

Ganrade, 280

Gardar, 17, 18

Geirod, Lay of, 249

_Geitlandsá_, 288, 289

_Geitlands Jökull_, 286

Gentleman John, 50

Germany, 71, 80, 91, 106, 108, 115, 122, 159, 172

_Gestavatn_, 174

Geyser Action, 109

_Geysir_, 98, 101, 103-113, 115-118, 290

Gisli, 266

Gizur, 25

Gloucester, 56

Glum, 266

Good Templars, 69

Gorm, 14

_Goðafoss_, 213

_Goðalands Jökull_, 154

Governor of Iceland, 286, 287

Gray, Asa, 128

Greece, 294

Greenland, 23, 34, 48

Grettir, 257, 258, 260, 277

_Grimdavik_, 50

_Grimstaðir_, 224

_Grimstunga_, 268

_Grimstungaheiði_, 275

Griss, 270

Grist Mill, 138

Gulf Stream, 199

_Gullfoss_, 116-121, 213, 290

Gunnar, 91, 95, 154, 166

Gyda, 14

H

_Hafnarfjörðr_, 51, 176, 178

Haggard, H. R., 119

Hakon, 292, 293

Halco, 36

Halfdan, 14

Halfreðr, 269-274

Halgerða, 91, 95

Halifax, 180

Hall, 25, 220, 221

Hallgrimsson, Jonas, 65, 136

_Hallmundarhraun_, 280

_Háls_, 208, 215

Harald Fairhaired, 14, 15, 17, 20, 31, 35, 237

Harek, 294

_Haukadalr_, 105, 112, 118

_Haukagil_, 269, 275

Haying, 139, 168

Hebrides, 17

_Heimaey_, 51, 53, 54, 56, 58, 154

Heimskringla, 28, 292, 295

_Hekla_, 113, 116, 122, 133, 134, 141, 142, 144-147, 152, 153, 157, 158,
226, 233

Hekla’s Eruptions, 145-147

_Helgafell_, 54, 56

Helgason, Kjartan, 125, 128

_Helgustaðir_, 187

Helsingfors, 104

Henderson, 5, 113, 138, 206, 207, 224, 282, 297

_Hengill_, 65, 94, 176

_Heraðsvötn_, 245, 255

Hjallti, 25

Hjaltalin, Jon., 246

Hjörleifr, 18, 47, 48, 53

_Hjörleifshfði_, 19

_Hlíðarendi_, 166, 178

_Hnausar_, 259

_Hofs Jökull_, 153, 257, 276

_Hólar_, 67, 291

Holland, 71

_Hólmar_, 222

_Holyfell_, 26

Hooker, Dr. W. J., 172, 173, 230

Horace, 32

_Hörgá_, 245-247

_Hörgárdalr_, 247

Hospitality, 163

Hotel Island, 60, 69

Hotel Reykjavik, 69

Howard the Halt, 27

Howell, F. W. W., 27, 28, 255, 256

_Hrafnagjá_, 88, 89, 98

_Hrafnarfjörðr_, 18, 178

Hrafnkell, 213, 262

_Hrafntinnuhryggr_, 232

_Hraundrangar_, 248

_Hruni_, 123, 124, 126, 127, 129, 131, 157

_Húsavik_, 17, 200, 201, 219, 235

_Hvamn_, 20

_Hverfjall_, 221, 237

_Hvitá_, 76, 113, 116, 119, 123, 148, 153, 164, 288, 289

_Hvitávatn_, 121, 277

I

Iceland Revisited, poem, 182

Iceland Spar, 186

Ingölfr, 18, 19, 24, 47, 48, 60, 162, 268

_Ingölfshöfði_, 19, 48, 162

Ingmundr, 268

Ireland, 17, 28

Isle of Man, 20

Isleifsson, O., 160

J

James, King, 50

Jan Mayen, 184, 190, 197, 198

Jensen, 244

Jerusalem, 294

Jochumsson, Matt., 136, 245, 256

_Jökullsá_, 119, 198, 235

Jónsson, Árni, 215-217

Jonson, Rev. Finn, 296

Jorgensen, 84

Jötunori, 280

K

_Kaldá_, 177

_Kaldidalr_, 288

_Kálfstindar_, 99

_Kálfstrond_, 236

_Kalmungstúnga_, 123, 279, 286, 288, 289

_Kárastaðir_, 84

Kari, 48, 137

_Keilir_, 74, 75

Kentucky, 240

_Kerlingafjáll_, 121

Kettil, 20

Kirkwall, 35

_Kleifavatn_, 175

Klinckowström, Baron Axel, 55, 199, 202, 237

Kolfina, 270, 272

Kolskegg, 159

Kolyma, 197

_Krafla_, 172, 221, 229, 232-334

_Kráká_, 216

_Krakatindr_, 148

_Krisuvik_, 116, 157, 170, 172, 174, 175, 230

_Krossaness_, 185

Küchler, Carl, 172

Kyle, 50, 51

L

Labrador, 43, 56, 180

_Lagthing_, 38, 39

_Lambafell_, 148

Landnamabók, 28, 56

_Langaness_, 184, 196, 200

_Láng Jökull_, 112, 116, 118, 153, 257, 276, 277

_Laugardalr_, 100

_Laugarfell_, 105, 107

_Laugarvatn_, 100

Laugarvegur, 61

_Laura_, 34-36, 106, 172

_Laxá_, 123, 131, 164

_Leirnúkr_, 221, 223, 232-234

Leith, 34

Lena, 197

Leper Hospital, 62

Linnaeus, 128, 238

Lithe, 159

_Ljósavatn_, 208, 209, 212, 213, 215, 238, 251, 288

_Ljósavatnsskarð_, 208

_Lögberg_, 29, 65, 93, 94, 96

Loki, 250

Loti, Pierre, 185, 189

London, 63, 92

Longfellow, 271

Louis, King, 294

Luther, Martin, 67

M

Magnus, 36

Manneling, A. V., 104

Margrjet, 53

Mark Twain, 114

_Markarfljót_, 154, 158

_Matador_, 188, 190-192, 194, 196, 199, 200, 202

Matterhorn, 153

Mediterranean, 21, 31, 43, 153

_Meijarsoeti_, 258

Meteorological, 72, 73

_Miklibaer_, 123, 254, 255

_Miðdalr_, 102

Mohammed, 51

Moors, 50

Morad, 54

Mord, 94

Morris, Wm., 128

_Mossfellsheiði_, 83

_Möðruvellir_, 245

Mý, 101

_Mývatn_, 99, 174, 201, 204, 213, 218-221, 234, 238

N

Naddodd, 17

_Námaskarð_, 221, 229, 232

Nansen, 198

Naup, Head, 36

New England, 46, 48, 63, 85, 127, 131, 134, 163, 275

New Hampshire, 77, 127, 140

New York, 63, 81, 179

New Zealand, 107

Niagara, 120, 213

Nicol, 187

_Noefrhólt_, 142

Nomenclature, 82

Norna, 35, 43

North Dakota, 192, 215

Norway, 17, 19, 20, 23, 25, 27, 28, 40-43, 62, 70, 71, 111, 115, 147,
163, 186, 292

Nova Zembla, 199

O

Obi, 197

_Oddeyri_, 245

Oddi, 159, 160, 291

Odin, 21, 24, 26, 48, 95, 220, 280, 281

Olaf, the Holy, 25

Olaf, the White, 20

Old Man of Hoy, 36, 43

_Ölfusá_, 25, 103, 116, 164, 167

_Öraefa_, 18, 19, 229, 255

Orkneys, 17, 19, 20, 35, 41, 43

_Óseyri_, 164

Oswald, Miss, 5, 135, 272

_Öxerá_, 89, 90, 93, 95, 119

_Öxnadalr_, 247, 248, 251

P

Paris, 92

Paul, 50

Pentland, 35

Periodicals, 69

Perret, Frank, 153

Peterhead, 35

Philippines, 192

Pliocene Formation, 201

Ponies, 76, 104, 118, 133, 155, 165, 238

Povelsen, 285

Powell, York, 27

R

Rangar Sands, 54

_Rauðagnúpa_, 198

Religion, 68

_Reydarfjörðr_, 185

_Reykholt_, 28, 290, 291, 294-296

_Reykjahlið_, 223-225, 235

_Reykjaness_, 58, 167, 174

_Reykjavik_, 19, 29, 59-61, 63-65, 68, 70, 71, 78, 81, 92, 104, 130, 136,
152, 162, 175, 176, 178, 179, 188, 204, 212, 278, 287, 290

Rognavald, 15

S

Saemundr, 27, 159, 280, 291

Safnahús, 64, 65

Sámr, 213

Saxo Gramaticus, 111

Scandinavia, 26, 27, 42, 47, 48, 55, 62, 87, 92, 125, 138

_Scandsá_, 53

_Scarpa_, 185

Scheele, 238

Schley, W. S., 151

Schools, 69, 157

Scott, Sir W., 43, 267

Scotland, 17, 35, 40, 62, 240

_Scribla_, 296

_Seyðisfjörðr_, 63, 184, 192, 195, 248

Shakespeare, 137

Shetland, 17, 19, 147

Siberia, 86, 197, 199

Sigurðsson, Jon., 29, 65

_Silfrastaðir_, 254, 255

_Skagafjörðr_, 252, 255, 257

_Skálafell_, 79

_Skálholt_, 68, 296

Skallagrim, 291

Skapti, 137

Skarpðin, 65

_Skipholt_, 121-123

_Skjalbreith_, 257, 282

_Skjálfandafljót_, 213

_Skálfandi_, 201

_Skjalfandifjörðr_, 17

_Skogafoss_, 48

Skuli, 292

_Skútustaðir_, 123, 217, 218, 221, 222, 237, 238

_Slútness_, 224, 225

_Snaefells_, 74, 79, 176

_Snaeland_, 17

Snorri, the Priest, 25, 26, 95

Snorri, Sturlason, 28, 159, 178, 271, 291, 295, 296

_Snorrilaug_, 295

Soap, 109

Solfatara, 172

Spain, 192

Spitzbergen, 198

_Sprengisandur_, 153

Springfield, Mass., 233, 235

Stackhouse, J. F., 184

Stockholm, 55, 200, 237

_Stórigjá_, 224

_Stranda Kirkja_, 170

_Strokr_, 110, 111

_Strömö_, 37, 38, 40

Sulfur, 173, 174

_Súlur_, 93

_Surtshellir_, 280, 286, 289

Surtur, 279, 281

_Sveiflaháls_, 177

Sveinbjórn, 136

Sweden, 71, 106, 115, 170

Syssel, 216

T

Thangbrand, 25, 220, 221

_Thangbrandspollr_, 220

Thinghús, 64, 65, 68, 216, 222

_Thingvallavatn_, 79, 84, 93, 164, 174

_Thingvellir_, 25, 29, 77, 78, 83, 87, 89, 96, 162, 257, 282

_Thjórsá_, 131, 132, 148, 153, 162

_Thjórsáholt_, 132

_Thjórsátún_, 160

Thor, 21, 120, 220, 250, 251

Thordson, Sturla, 293

_Thórisdalr_, 257, 288

Thorlak, Bishop, 67

Thorlaksson, Bishop, 28, 67, 68

Thorlaksson, Sira, 247

Thoroddsen, Th., 66

_Thorshavn_, 36-38

Thorstein, 51

Thorstein, Jon., 52

Thorun, 20

Thorvald, 220

Thorvaldsen, A., 68

_Thverá_, 248

Tilton, Capt. D. N., 198

_Tindfjallajökull_, 153

Tintron, 99, 219, 220

Tryggvason, Olaf, 25, 220, 269, 295

Tubal Cain, 132

_Túngufljót_, 105, 116-118, 121, 164

Tunis, 294

U

United States, 62, 63, 71, 80, 179, 215

Upsala, 203

Utgard-Loki, 120

_Utlið_, 103

V

Vafthruðnis, 280, 281

Valgerðr, 269

_Valhöll_, 89-91

_Varmá_, 164

_Vatna Jökull_, 153

_Vatnsdalr_, 266

_Vaðlaheiði_, 205

Verbruggen, 65

Verne, Jules, 282

_Vestdalsheiði_, 193

_Vestmannaeyjar_, 49

_Vestr-Rángá_, 142

Vesuvius, 148, 149, 153

_Vigriði_, 281

_Vilborg_, 53

_Vilpá_, 53

_Vindheima_, 206, 246

_Víti_, 234, 235

_Viðey_, 180

_Viðimýri_, 257

_Vogsósar_, 171

Von Troll, 146

_Vopnafjörðr_, 195, 200

W

Washington, George, 65

_Waterdale_, 27

Westman Isles, 19, 48, 49, 51, 53, 54, 144, 154, 298

White Mts., 233

William, the Conqueror, 294

_Winterlid_, 220

Worcester, Mass., 127

Wright, Frederick, 277

Y

Yankee, 47, 85, 167, 240

Yellowstone, 107

Yenisei, 197

Z

Zoëga, Geir, 6

Zoëga, Helgi, 6, 60, 61, 77, 204

Zoëga, Johannes, 76, 77, 81-83, 90, 98, 104, 106, 113, 142, 150, 154, 164

End of Project Gutenberg's Iceland, by Waterman Spaulding Chapman Russell