Ii8 Account of a Fiery Eruption in Iceland. 



bodies of the cattle. Their hoofs became white ; their hair 

 fell oft"; and they were covered all over with puftules and 

 ulcers. The meadows alfo fuflered feverely ; and the cattle 

 which had endeavoured to pick up the few fcanty remains 

 of grafs that had been left, might be feen lying dead on 

 them in heaps. Many others were deftroyed by hunger; 

 and it was only a few that were faved by the. means of hay. 

 The cattle in general were fo {tunned, fometimes by the 

 dreadful explofions of the thunder, and the inceflant roaring 

 and fire in the atmofpherc, that they ran into marfhy 

 places, threw themfelves over precipices, or even rufhed 

 into the flames. 



Thefe uncommon phenomena were no lefs deftru&ive 

 to the inhabitants. Many, in particular old people, and 

 thofe whofe lungs were weak, could with difficulty breathe 

 on account of the fulphureous ftench and vapour proceeding 

 from the flames. Many alfo who enjoyed good health were 

 reduced to a flate of illnefs; and many would have been 

 fufl'ocated had not moderate fhowers of rain, which fell 

 fometimes, cooled and refreflied the atmofphere. 



Befides thefe circumftanccs which took place in Iceland, 

 many other phenomena worthy of notice occurred in the 

 neighbourhood. A new ifland was thrown up in a part of 

 the lea where, according to the account of experienced fea- 

 men, the water before had been about a hundred fathoms 

 in depth. Its distance from Iceland was fixteen, and from 

 Bird Ifland eight miles. In the month of Auguft it threw 

 up bright flames; and it continued to burn till February 

 1784. Later accounts ftate that towards the end of the 

 year it threw up a large column of fire intermixed with 

 fand. 1 his ifland was about half a mile in circumference, 

 and its height appeared to be equal to that of the mountain 

 Efian. 



Towards the north-weft, nearer to Iceland than the old 

 eaftern gulph of Greenland, lies another very high ifland, 

 larger than the former ; which, according to the lateft ac- 



3 V counts, 



