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VON TROIL’s LETTERS ON ICELAND. 639
ABSTRACT FROM THE ICELANDIC LAND-BOOK OF 1695.
|
S|A) Srey ay oy s(n e/a) el steals] Sl Pl elge
tbefe farms = pou = 8, FA re 5 p sg | & eo Ge | z = a g 5 2m
each fyffelbe-}] 2-] 3 |] 8] Bl] os | * a Pd BP Sues ae fod mb a | | & |e
e 3 Ay gra = ign haa aged ae Ks Bs :
the king. go} 40] 10] 22] 25 2 6) 21) ) 20!) 85} 40] 82} 51] 45) 502 6hs31%
the bifhop’s apy
of Skalholt.| | ~ 2} 37 | 4 3 1} 4) 13] 32| 202
‘the bifhop’s| | is LK ae nS. a8
of Hoolum. | 39} 196) 61) 49 345
urch glebe. 14 9} 67) 44] 18] 24) 38) 64) 29) 46) 14] 33] 55) 81 Si) G4l- 22 640)
ebe of clergy. Heew2le ok fal ee Bia vO} 3 Er4 Gis Laird 24th le gol a 740|
ebe of fuper- a aca Sp: Fi ==)
mated clergy.| “| 7} 4) ? A) Bee TEES “ az rae tbs fae 45|
r maintaining kok
poor, 1 Row 1 I ue 2 pals I 2 eS 2 16,
r maintaining Th Wa ee twas said
fpitals. SE 4 af}oo : at: : J 184
) farmers. 13} 36} 216} 59) 22/ 149] 132] 161] 66) 145) 104) 133} 1341 187] 47] 153) 91 471
tal fum. 126| ot} 344] 109! 68| 180 187] 259| 125! 329| 366| 323] 306] 357| 183] 268 347| 4058|
They have likewife prevented the growth of fir-trees, and Norway pitch-firs*, which
governor Thodal had planted here, whofe tops feemed to wither as foon as they were
about two feet high, when they then ceafed growing.
That wood has formerly grown in Iceland, can be proved from the Sagas or tradi-
tion ftories of Landnama, Kialnefinga, Svafdala, and Egill Skallagrimfonare. It is like-
wife proved by pieces which are frequently dug up in marfhes and fens, where not a fin-
gle buth is to be feen at prefent. The fubftance, called by the natives /uturbrand, is
likewife a clear proof of it.
This futurbrand is evidently wood, not quite petrified, but indurated, which drops
afunder as foon as it comes into the air, but keeps well in water, and never rots: it
gives a bright though weak flame, and a great deal of heat, and yields a fourifh though
not unwholefome {mell. The fmiths prefer it to fea-coal, becaufe it does not fo foon
wafte the iron. The Icelanders make a powder of it, which they make ufe of to pre-
ferve their cloaths from moths; they likewife apply it externally again{ft the cholick. I
have feen tea-cups, plates, &c. in Copenhagen made of futurbrand, which takes a fine
polifh. Itis foundin many parts of Iceland, generally in the mountains in horizontal
beds; fometimes more than one isto be met with, as inthe mountain of Lack in Barde-
flrand, where four {trata of futurbrand are found alternately with different kinds of
ftone.
I have brought a large piece of it with me to Sweden, in which there are evident
marks of branches, the circles of the annual growth of the wood, leaves, and bark, in
the furrounding clay; and there is fome reafon to believe, that thefe trees have been
mixed in the thrown-up lava in fome eruption of fire, or an earthquake.
* Pinus picea, Linn, and pinus abies, Linn.
Tam
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