Isaac Sharp and Asbjorn Kloster in the Faroe Islands (April – June 1862)

Journal of Isaac Sharp - May 30, 1862

Vagur

Left Porkere (Porkeri) this morning about half-past nine, and in about an hour reached Vaai (Vagur). At this place, and in many parts of Faroe, diphtheria appears to have been very prevalent and often fatal. At half-past eleven, nearly sixty persons assembled. It felt to me an open time, and though feeling faint and feeble as to health, help was mercifully granted, with strength, to tell of the love and mercy of our Heavenly Father to poor fallen sinners, through his dear Son, and of the robe of righteousness to be obtained through Him.

Famjin

At a quarter-past two, we left Vaai (Vagur), and, crossing a narrow neck of land, reached the opposite or western side of Sudero (Suderoy). Here a boat was lowered down a wondrous pile of rocks, some 30 or 40 feet, at such an angle as boats rarely travel, and probably few but Faroe men would attempt. An hour-and-a-half brought us to Famien (Famjin) (midway between north and south of Suderoe (Suderoy)), a little mountainous valley with a fine cascade and a rugged Icelandic-like outline of peaks and pinnacles. The little hamlet is close to the shore, consisting of a few scattered houses and their outbuildings, and the little kirk. On inquiring for a lodging, the mistress of the house was heard to say, "Oh no! we do not know what sort of people they are: besides, we have only one spare bed." But her husband, a man of pleasing deportment, overrules; so we were invited in, and gladly entered, it being too wet to proceed tonight on foot for a two hours' mountain tramp, except in absolute necessity. At eight in the evening, a little company of twenty-one assembled.