134 CHARLES CARD ALE BABINGTON. [1846 



Alpine plants. After a careful examination of a considerable part 

 of the cliffs, I gained the top by a circuitous route, not being able to 

 get up the upper precipice. The top, was mostly covered with rather 

 small stones, with only here and there a tuft of herbage of Saxifraga, 

 Armeria, or mostly Silene acaulis. I had much difl&culty in finding 

 my way down again, having had to ascend again when near to the 

 bottom, and to put back three or four times. At last I reached the 

 boat with box full of fine plants at 7 p.m. The view from the top 

 was of the wildest character, nothing but barren or snowy mountains 

 and boggy valleys in all directions. Indeed the very wildest view 

 that I have ever seen. 



Juli/ 5. Returned to Reykjavik with a good wind, but rather 

 too much ahead. Took a walk on land in the evening. 



July 6. A very fine day, went with the net up to nearly the old 

 place, and fished with great success. I found a few new plants. 

 Visited Videy on our return, and saw Eider-ducks' nests, and 

 numerous veiy tame sea birds. Walked to the look-out on the hill 

 after dinner. On the way from Videy we ran upon a rock, and 

 were nearly upset. Indeed we all thought that the bottom of the 

 boat was broken open ; fortunately no injury was done. 



July 7. Started for the Geysers, with a drove of seventeen 

 horses. Ditchfield the steward, and Hansen the Dane, went with 

 us. I felt quite out of my way on starting for a four days' ride. 

 The first few miles of the way Avas a moderately good path, crossing 

 the river at a short distance above the fishing place. Afterwards 

 the road led through a hilly country nearly parallel to the moun- 

 tains bordering Hvals-Fiord. We stopped in the middle of the day 

 in a fine grassy glen, to rest the horses, and then proceeded over a 

 wild and dreary stony moor until near Thingvalla, obtaining a fine 

 view of the lake of that name, some miles before our arrival. At 

 length we reached the top of the lofty and perpendicular cliff of the 

 Almannagja, into which we descended on foot, without unloading 

 the baggage ; then fording the river Oxara we reached Thingvalla 

 at about 10 p.m., and took up our quarters in the church. We dined 

 or rather supped in the choir, and slept there on the benches by its 

 walls. I then walked amongst the crevices of the lava (most of 

 them full of water), also to the fall of the Oxara into the 

 Almannagja. 



July 8. After a very bad night in the church, I went to 

 botanize on the lava, and had great success in a walk of about five 

 miles, when the party overtook me, and I mounted my horse. We 

 soon came to a crack in the rock similar to the Almannagja, and 

 parallel to it, Avhich we crossed upon a ridge of stones which had 

 fallen in, and nearly filled it up in one place, so as to allow a narrow 

 path along its top, and so got to the other side, after a very rough 

 scramble over the masses of rock. All this part of the country is 

 covered with low bushes of Betula glutinosa, Betula intermedia, and 



