SS ee 
HOT SPRINGS in ICELAND. 139 
thermometer, immerfed in it above where it is joined by the 
waters of the Little Geyzer, rofe to 67 degrees, while in the 
open air it ftood at 60. The breadth of the river in the fame 
place is forty feet ; its mean depth two feet and an half, and 
its courfe is rather rapid. Several kinds of fith are found in it; 
in particular, numbers of very fine falmon. 
Tue village of Rykum or Ryka, called either indifcrimi- 
nately, from Ry&, an Icelandic word, fignifying fmoke, is fituated 
in the middle of the valley, and, by an obfervation made by 
Mr Baring, is in latitude 64° 4’ 38” N. about twenty miles 
from Rykiavick, and eight or ten from Oreback, a fmall har- 
bour on the fouthern coaft of the ifland. The village con- 
filts of the farmer’s houfe, and the houfes of his fervants or 
dependants, and a fmall church. All the adjacent lands belong 
to him, and he keeps a confiderable number of fheep and cat- 
tle, and fome few horfes. ‘Thefe conftitute his riches; and he 
purchafes at Rykiavick, with fkins, wool and butter, whatever 
he requires, of which the chief article is fifh, for his winter’s 
provifion. m 
I HAVE now related to you every circumftance that has oc 
curred to me worth mentioning concerning this interefting 
valley. I have regretted much, however, my inability to give 
you a more accurate account of fome parts of it; in particular, 
of the many fprings which break out near the hills to the north, 
and of the rocks above the field where we placed our tents, 
which deferved more attention than I gave to them. But we 
remained in this valley a fhort time only, and the weather, du- 
ring our continuance there, was very unfavourable. I fhall 
here clofe this letter, and referve for another (which you may 
very foon expect) the account I have yet to fend you of the 
Great Geyzer and the fprings near Haukadal. Iam, Dear Sir, 
with great efteem, your moft obedient fervant, 
Joun Tuo. STANLEY. 
Vot. IIL. - S VI. 
