This is of course only done in the winter; but as winter lasts eight months in Iceland, it is long enough.
There is only one school in the whole island, which originally was in Bessestadt, but has been removed to Reikjavik since 1846.

In this school only youths who can read and write are received, and they are either educated for priests, and may complete their studies here, or for doctors, apothecaries, or judges, when they must complete their studies in Copenhagen.
Besides theology, geometry, geography, history, and several languages, such as Latin, Danish, and, since 1846, German and also French, are taught in the school of Reikjavik.
The chief occupation of the Icelandic peasants consists in fishing, which is most industriously pursued in February, March, and April.

Then the inhabitants of the interior come to the coasting villages and hire themselves to the dwellers on the beach, the real fishermen, as assistants, taking a portion of the fish as their wages.

Fishing is attended to at other times also, but then exclusively by the real fishermen.

In the months of July and August many of the latter go into the interior and assist in the hay-harvest, for which they receive butter, sheep's wool, and salt lamb.