136 CHARLES CARDALE BABINGTON. [1846^ 



July 11. Returned to Reykjavik. The day was rather bad and 

 showery, and one heavy storm overtook us in the hills, which lasted 

 about an hour. 



July 13. Called and took leave of the Governor, who had been 

 on board the "Antelope" in the morning, and shewn us the public 

 library of the town, which is rather extensive, and is kept in the 

 loft over the church. In the church there is a square font beauti- 

 fully carved on the sides by Thorwaldsen. A sheep purchased at 

 Reikjavik weighed 30 lbs. and cost id. per lb., 10s. ! At 6 p.m. we 

 got under way, and by 10 had got into the open sea, when it came 

 on to blow a smart gale of wind, and we had to lie to until the 

 middle of the next day. 



July 14, Nearly all the ship's companj'^ were more or less ill. 

 I got over it by dinner time. It blew hard all the day. 



July 15. Rounded the outer island of Reykjanes at 7 a.m., and 

 were off the Westmen-Islands in the evening. 



July 16. Dead calm early in the day, and light winds in the 

 evening. Off Eyafell and Myrdals-Jokuls. We saw a whale at 

 about a mile off attacked by a Thresher. The blows of the latter 

 were most wonderful. 



July 17. Still light winds. Rounded Portland early in the 

 morning. Had fine views of the snowy mountains all day, and 

 towards night came abreast of Orsefa-Jokul, of which we obtained 

 a very good view, and saw its glaciers to much advantage. One of 

 them had a large moraine in its centre, and shewed the crevices very 

 plainly as it expanded round a rocky point, where also a deep 

 depression was shewn between it and the cliff. We were unable to 

 go within some miles of the land, on account of the uncertainty of 

 the winds and its own badness. The snow descended about a third 

 down the mountain, and the glaciers to the low land near the sea. 

 Many other lofty Jokuls were to be seen inland. Towards the 

 evening the wind rose, and with it the sea, so that at 9 p.m. the 

 ship was hove to, and continued so all the next day. 



Jtdy 18. With a very heavy but short sea. 



July 19. A continuance of the same weather, but rather less 

 wind. As the weather proved that we could not possibly reach 

 Reydar-Fiord before Wednesday at the soonest, Astley determined 

 that his engagements in England would not allow him to spend any 

 time there. He therefore turned the ship's head towards England, 

 much to my sorrow. 



July 20, 21, 22. Moderate and favourable winds. Made a 

 good run for St. Kilda. 



July 23. A gale of wind, which we afterwards learned was- 

 considered as most severe in Lewis. 



