On the morning of the 16th of May I landed in the harbour of Havenfiord, and for the first time trod the shores of Iceland.

Although I was quite bewildered by sea-sickness, and still more by the continual rocking of the ship, so that every object round me seemed to dance, and I could scarcely make a firm step, still I could not rest in the house of Herr Knudson, which he had obligingly placed at my disposal.

I must go out at once, to see and investigate every thing.

I found that Havenfiord consisted merely of three wooden houses, a few magazines built of the same material, and some peasants' cottages.
The wooden houses are inhabited by merchants or by their factors, and consist only of a ground-floor, with a front of four or six windows.

Two or three steps lead up to the entrance, which is in the centre of the building, and opens upon a hall from which doors lead into the rooms to the right and left.