20 ICELAND. 



The interior of the basin is rough, like cerebral coral 

 or cauliflower, and plants thrown into the water become 

 covered by silicious encrustation, 



We witnessed a grand display, after many false alarms, 

 during which an abortive attempt was apparently made 

 by the master of the ceremonies to gratify us. With a 

 slight tremor of the earth, and considerable groaning and 

 sighing, a water-column, or rather, I should say, a sheaf 

 of columns, rose higher and higher out of the basin. 

 These columns partially sank again and again, but con- 

 tinued at each renewed effort to gain greater altitude, 

 till, with a final attempt, a maximum of about one hundred, 

 feet was reached. This height was only maintained for 

 a few seconds, and down like a telescope the whole 

 mass sank, the entire period consumed in the display 

 being seven minutes and a half. 



The explosion was accompanied by so much steam, that 

 the water- column was greatly concealed; still it was a very 

 wonderful and gratifying spectacle. As throb after throb 

 raised the dome of water higher and higher, the excite- 

 ment among the spectators was, as may be believed, very 

 great. 



At one tune the Geyser is said to have been much 

 more powerful than in our day, and to have risen 

 between three and four hundred feet every six hours ; 

 but that was in his hot and fiery youth : he is now old 

 and feeble, and gradually builds up a flinty tomb, which 

 one day will enclose him as similar formations have done 

 not a few of his brethren. 



