masses of glowing scoriæ shot up to an enormous height, and a stream of red molten lava appeared flowing down the western declivity of the mountain towards the plains.”

The effects of the volcano on the rivers in the immediate western vicinity of the range, were sufficiently remarkable. The waters of the western Rangaa diminished very sensibly about mid-day on the 2nd, probably in consequence of the scoriæ and ashes that fell into and obstructed its upper course; but a few hours later its stream suddenly rose to an unprecedented height, and bearing on its surface huge masses of scoriæ, it swept with irresistible force onwards to the ocean. At the same time the temperature of the water became so much elevated, that the hand could not be kept in it for a moment, and hundreds of trout, in a half-boiled condition, were cast out upon the banks. But ere the night had fairly set in, the river had returned within its limits, and its waters in a short time regained their clear pellucid character.

On the morning of the first eruption, the atmosphere around the mountain was perfectly still, but from the rapidity with which the huge column of ashes travelled towards the south and east, it is evident that a powerful north wind blew in the upper regions of the air, shortly after the volcano burst forth. We have evidence that the shower of ashes and of volcanic sand extended far out to sea in this direction. The sloop Helena, Captain J. Larsen, was, at twelve o'clock a. m., on the 2nd of September, in 60-58 north latitude, and 9-43 longitude west from Greenwich. At nine p. m. on that day, a heavy cloud came driving over the ocean, and covered the ship's decks and sails with dark ashes, while a strong wind blew from the north-west. It follows, therefore, that in the space of less than twelve hours, the ashes from Mount Hekla passed over a distance of about 360 English miles, giving a velocity of above 30 English miles per hour. The showers of ashes fell in the Faro isles at the same hour, and in Shetland early on the morning of the 3rd of September. At the period of the year when the eruption took place, the sheep, which form no inconsiderable portion of the riches of the Icelanders, had not as yet been brought in from their summer pastures, and thousands of these animals were grazing on the high ranges around the volcano. The utmost anxiety was necessarily felt regarding their fate; but on the evening of the first day they arrived in troops at the several farms, with their fleeces blackened with ashes, and their flesh severely burned in many places by the red-hot scoriæ. Many, however, still remained upon the hills, and were not recovered for more than a week, when their feet were found to be dreadfully cut and bruised by the sharp lava, so that the lambs had to be carried home, and for a long time afterwards these were observed to feed in a kneeling position, as their feet were too sore to support the weight of the body. On the east side of Hekla, which was the direction in which the showers of ashes principally fell, the flocks were widely dispersed. Scared by the fearful detonations from the mountain, and burnt by the glowing cinders falling around, the terrified animals fled to a great distance, and some forty or fifty head even made their way into the district of Skaptartunga, which lies nearly 60 miles to the east of Hekla. When the farmers and herdsmen subsequently traversed the eastern district in search of their lost herds, they observed the remarkable fact, that the boiling springs, so common about the Markar-fliot, had become only lukewarm, or about the temperature of new milk. One particular spring, at the eastern base of the Torfa Jokul, which had hitherto always been used by the Icelanders to prepare their coffee when in its vicinity, without the need of fire or of boiling apparatus, was now so cooled, as to be utterly unfit for that purpose.

The rate of progress of the lava stream, in its descent from the crater, was not accurately noted; by general report it was said, in the first twelve days of the eruption, to have advanced at the average of about fifty feet per hour. In seven days the new 'Roin' had progressed more than two miles from the foot of Hekla, but its cooling from that time went on rapidly, though when an iron bar was thrust into the rough scoriæ that composed its crust, it easily reached the melted mass below, and quickly became red hot. But it was somewhat dangerous to approach very near the melted mass, for if it encountered any obstacle in its course, such as a large stone or rock, it accumulated behind it, and then suddenly burst forth on either side in a stream of liquid fire. The depth of the new lava stream was generally estimated at from 40 to 50 feet, but when compressed within a cleft or defile, it often rose to 120 feet or more.

Up to the 12th of September, the lava stream had only flowed over beds of ancient lavas, and had not as yet reached the mountain pastures. On the 12th, the volcano, after eight days of comparative tranquillity, again became active, and poured forth additional showers of lava and scoriæ. The injurious effects of the rain of ashes soon became apparent in the vegetable world. Cabbages, &c. which were healthy and flourishing in the gardens on the 13th, were completely withered and dried up by midday on the 14th, and the same fate befell the herbage, wherever the ashes rested thereon. Still worse were the consequences when the ashes fell mixed with rain, as they then adhered more closely to the grass, marking each blade with a dull brown spot wherever the ashes adhered; and then, as these spots increased in number, they gradually blended with each other, and the whole plant became brown and sapless.

▸. On the 14th of September, the detonations from the volcano were fearfully loud, and occurred with great regularity, at intervals of about a minute. They were always preceded by an active outburst of black smoke, probably ashes and steam, from the interior of the volcano. A new crater opened this afternoon on the southern part of the range, and emitted a copious torrent of lava. The ashes and sand rained down in such quantities over all the district to the south-east of Hekla, that in three hours' time the ground was covered to the depth of two inches. During the suceeding days, the lava stream, receiving fresh augmentation from the new crater, advanced on to the mountain pastures, and surrounded the Mel-Field, a small hill of Tufa, isolated among the green pastures at the foot of Hekla. By the 21st of September, the lava stream had progressed nearly 100 fathoms beyond the Mel-Field, through a deep valley on the northern side of that elevation. Throughout the month of October, the volcano continued active, though to a less degree, and though snow covered all the lower ranges, the mountain itself remained bare. On the 10th of November, the subterranean action seemed to have almost entirely ceased, but on the 13th of that month, a violent paroxysm again occurred, and on the 19th, the lava stream reached its furthest limits, having progressed during the preceding six days, at the rate of 1,250 feet per day. During the months of December and January, ashes repeatedly fell, but the loud detonations from the mountain were now replaced by is complete, excepting on the north-west side, where the crater has been split from top to bottom, and a large portion of it carried away by some tremendous explosion.

The age of the different lava streams of Hekla is best determined by the amount of vegetation and of mould that they bear upon the surface. The most ancient are covered with a depth of soil sufficient to support a fair growth of grass. On those of later date, the grass is thinly scattered; but a spongy moss renders the footing tolerably secure, though it often, at the same time, hides treacherous rents and fissures in the lava. Finally, the sharp and rough masses of the newest lavas, are not only totally bare of vegetation, but present so rugged and broken a surface, that an active man cannot make his way over them at a greater rate than half an English mile per hour. It is not merely here the unevenness of the surface which obstructs the traveller's progress, but the light and porous lava breaks treacherously under the slightest pressure, and precipitates the adventurer into deep fissures which before were concealed from his sight. Long, however, before grass appears on the recent lavas, vegetation in the shape of dwarf birch wood, "Birkekrat," has appeared in some of the more sheltered spots. The woods of Selsund are well known in Rangaavalle Syssel, though the birch rarely rises to the height of a man; but, to the Icelander, the smallest portion of fire-wood is of the utmost value. No inconsiderable part of the income of the owner of Selsund farm is derived from the cuttings of his forests for charcoal, a species dollar (about four shillings English) being obtained readily for a small horse load of this material. To be sure, this is not paid in hard cash, which is at all times a very scarce commodity in Iceland, but is bartered for twenty fish at four skillings each.

On the north side of the Hekla range, there is a stream of lava which cannot be traced to the craters of that mountain, and has evidently flowed from some volcanoes in the interior of the country. Some of the streams of lava in this district, appear to have been consolidated under very high pressure, and our author thinks it probable, that at one time the sea extended as a great inlet over the present Rangaavalle Syssel. The great rivers of this district have, in some cases, cut their way through pre-existing streams of lava. The most ancient lavas of Hekla are completely identical with those of the most recent date, as regards their structure, and the few minerals they contain.

In traversing the vast "Röins" on the west of Hekla, the traveller observes huge black furrows running parallel to the course of the lava stream, and separated by rugged crests of the most distorted forms. Where the lava current has been confined between two cliffs, (as in the gorge below Selsund, opposite to the now ruined farm of Næfrholt), it rises high against the perpendicular walls on either side; for the lateral portions are arrested in their course, and cooled, sooner than the central and more fluid parts, which continue their downward progress. Many of our readers may, no doubt, have witnessed the advance of a stream of lava from the craters of Vesuvius; but, by the public at large, very erroneous ideas are entertained as to the rapidity of its advance and its general appearance. A lava stream has not the aspect of a fiery torrent, dashing along with the impetuosity of a river that has newly burst its bounds, and overwhelming all things, living or dead, in its irresistible course. The progress of a current of lava is often slow, excepting when it is highly fluid, and rolls over some steep declivity. The greater the distance from the crater, the more slowly does it advance, as the mass constantly tends to cool; but, on the other hand, the stream is frequently augmented by fresh eruptions. In the broad day light, a lava stream shows little or no signs of fire, so rapidly does the outer crust form from the cooling effects of the atmosphere. Across a gentle incline, it moves very slowly, and, to use a most humble simile, it resembles not a little a huge ash heap in slow and gradual progression. We have often stood beside a lava stream in the crater of Vesuvius, so near that we could thrust our walking-stick into the moving mass, from whence we withdrew it with the end in flames, though no fire could be seen on the external surface, amid the loose heaps of blackened scoriæ. At night, however, the scene is different. Wherever the stream rolls over a steep incline, the outer crust is broken, and the fiery torrent beneath comes into view. When the lava is pouring fast out of the crater, the bright ruddy glow of the melted matter forms a long line of fire winding down the sides of the mountain, while the huge masses thrown high in air by the furious outbursts of steam, resemble vast rockets in their flight through the darkened atmosphere. But perhaps the most fearful and extraordinary spectacle, is that presented by the fiery torrent when it encounters in its course a deep and rapid river. The

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