142 An ACCOUNT of 
the plain into an open country, where, being increafed by the 
waters of numerous ftreams and rivulets, it bends to the weft- 
ward, and near Skalholt falls into a confiderable river, the 
Huit-aa. 
Tue pleafant and fertile paftures near its banks were en- 
livened by numerous herds of cattle and fheep, the united 
riches of three or four farmers in the neighbourhood of Hau- 
kadal. The mowers alfo at work in the different fields fur- 
rounding each houfe, gave, at this feafon, additional beauty to 
the profpect. High hills to the weftward were feparated from 
the eminencies immediately above the fprings by a narrow 
valley. They were partly clothed with buthes of birch, which, 
although in no place above five feet high, were gratifying to 
the fight, which fo feldom in Iceland can reft on any appear- 
ance even of underwood. Above thefe, fome vegetation {till 
continued to cover the fides of the hills, and Mr Wricut 
found a variety of plants * near their fummits, which were cer- 
tainly, in fome places, not lefs than fixteen hundred feet above 
the plain. 
To the eaftward, the plain, feveral miles in breadth, was 
bounded by a long range of blue mountains, extending confi- 
derably to the fouth. Beyond thefe, the triple fummit of 
Heckla may be feen from the weftern hills; but I could not 
diftinguifh it from the plain, or even from the heights whence 
the view of the furrounding country was taken which I am 
now defcribing. ; 
To the north behind Haukadal, there were many high 
mountains, but at a great diftance, and of which the moft di- 
ftant were covered with fnow. They formed part of a dreary 
affemblage 
* Amongft others, he found the /alix herbacea (teft willow), the cera/lium tomento- 
fum (woolly moufe ear chickweed), the rumex digynus (round leaved mountain forrel), 
and the £oenigia, (a plant peculiar to Iceland), growing in great abundance, though 
generally in low and marfhy grounds. 
