At the end of ten years they were liberated; but of the four hundred only thirty-seven were alive when the joyful intelligence reached the place of their captivity; and of these twenty-four died before rejoining their native land .-- ED.
{27} This town, the capital of Iceland, and the seat of government, is built on an arm of the sea called the Faxefiord, in the south-west part of the island.

The resident population does not exceed 500, but this is greatly increased during the annual fairs.

It consists mainly of two streets at right angles to each other.

It contains a large church built of stone, roofed with tiles; an observatory; the residences of the governor and the bishop, and the prison, which is perhaps the most conspicuous building in the town .-- ED.
{28} As Madame Pfeiffer had thus no opportunity of attending a ball in Iceland, the following description of one given by Sir George Mackenzie may be interesting to the reader.
"We gave a ball to the ladies of Reikjavik and the neighbourhood.

The company began to assemble about nine o'clock.