The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

42 ISLANDS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC.fourteenth century English rovers had settled in the Vestmann Isles, thencemaking sudden plundering excursions along the seaboard, sacking churches,capturing and ransoming the peasantry, or selling them into bondage. Barbarycorsairs appeared in 1627, carrying oft' many, and slaughtering those who resisted.A rigid commercial monoply also cut Iceland off from the rest of the world,reducing it to the last extremity towards the close of the eighteenth century,the population numbering no more than 38,142 in the year 1786. In 1808local independence was proclaimed at Reykjavik, but the Danish authority wassoon restored; nor did the island receive a constitution till 1874, the millenniumof the first Norwegian settlement. Free trade had, however, been proclaimedin 1854.The natives are generally of tall stature, with round features, bigh forehead,thick hair, grey or blue eyes, coarse-set limbs, and heavy gait. The women, ifnot handsome, have at least a pleasant expression, with their light and soft hairfalling in long tresses over their shoulders, and their heads covered with prettylittle black caps decked with grey silken ribbons. The bodice, open above, butfastened with ornamental clasps below, is adorned with velvet and silver galloons,often of considerable value.Although marriages amongst kindred are the rule, natural infirmities are rare.But the mortality is very high, owing to the practice of weaning the children onthe third day after birth, and henceforth bringing them up exclusively on cow'smilk, fish, and coarse meats. In Heimaey (" Home Isle " ), one of the Vestmanngroup, most of the newly born die of convulsions, as in St. Kilda, though thefrightful mortality has diminished since the erection of a lying-in hospital, wheremother and child can enjoy a few weeks of pure air, denied them in their ownwretched hovels.Strange to say, consumption is almost unknown—an immunity attributed tothe diet, consisting of dairy produce, rye bread, and dried fish, with occasionallya little mutton. On the other hand, influenza, or epidemic bronchitis, is common,and the most fatal of all local disorders, though it i. ever attacks strangers. Itsravages are greatest in summer, which is otherwise also the most unhealthyseason of the year. Scorbutic affections, leprosy, and elephantiasis have not yetdisappeared from the island.The people are in general characterized by a certain dignity, reserve, andpersonal courage ; but they are accused of being very suspicious, and, like theirkindred in Norway and Normandy, much addicted to litigation. Happily theformer sanguinary quarrels, duels, and ordeals are now replaced by actions atlaw. In natural capacity, depth of thought, and love of letters they yield thepalm to none. The custom formerly prevailed of meeting together to listen tothe reading of their Gamba Sugar, or national chronicles, and in many housesartless paintings and sculptures recalled the leading events of their history.Heading and the game of chess occupied the long winter nights, and the art ofprinting had already been introduced in 1531, before the conversion of thenatives to Lutheranism. Even now scientific work finds encouragement in the