Árbók Landsbókasafns Íslands - Nýr flokkur - 01.01.1983, Blaðsíða 55

TIL ÍSLENDINGA
55
responses in Icelandic, and then send them to me. I should be glad to
recompense him for his labour. I trust that you will give yourself no
trouble about the queries, but simply find someone to take down the
post-master’s replies. Please also apologise most fully to the post-
master for the trouble I am giving him.
If there be any young man in Akureyri who is familiar with the
island of Grimsey, its people, products, geographical character and
so on, I should also very much like to concise description thereof. What
I want to know is as follows:
The number of families and houses on the island.
The population.
Length and breadth of the island.
The style and character of the habitations.
What kind of a church there is.
Whether there are ponies, sheep, cattle or fowls on the island.
What is the quantity of feathers gathered and sent away.
Whether fish are exported, and how many.
What kind of harbour or landing is there.
Whether there is any arrangement for teaching the children.
Whether there are any inter-marriages with the mainland.
What are the nearest ports or trading stations on the mainland, and
how are supplies brought from them.
How much the game of chess is played on the island, and the names
of the best chess players.
I should, of course, expect to remunerate the writer of such a paper in
a proper manner, but if you do not happen to know of any person
who has the time to give me a fairly complete account of the above,
and who is trustworthy, I hope that you will make no effort to find
one.
I have not heard for a long time from Dr. Hjaltalín, and do not
know whether Eggert Laxdal and other old acquaintances are alive
or not. I suppose that Halldór Briem is still with Dr. Hjaltalín. Once
in a great while I receive a brief communication from Friðbjörn
Steinsson, but without any news in it.
For some months I have had a couple of Icelandic students here to
help me with the catalogue of my Icelandic books, and much enjoyed
having such daily intercourse with Thule, but they have now both
returned to Copenhagen.