304 Analyses of Books. [Oct. 



The middle part of the north coast appears to be by far the 

 most fertile ; the rivers are larger, the vales broader, the inter- 

 mediate country less rugged ; and the Ybkuls, or snowy moun- 

 tains, are removed to a great distance in the interior. The last 

 remains of the forests of Iceland are in this tract ; but they are 

 now fast disappearing in consequence of the improvident 

 destruction made among them by the inhabitants, and the sup- 

 posed increasing inclemency of the seasons. Stumps of birch 

 trees more than two feet in diameter are still to be met with. 



The N.E. quarter of the island is one of the chief volcanic 

 centres, and at present yields nearly the whole of the sulphur 

 which is annually exported from Iceland. The hot springs of 

 Reykiahverf exhibit appearances similar, but inferior in magni- 

 ficence to those of the geysers in the south-west of the island, 

 and, therefore, need not be presented to our readers. Hut the 

 description of the scenery in the vicinity of Krabla, the principal 

 volcano of the district, forms, perhaps, the most interesting por- 

 tion of Dr. Henderson's book, as far at least as the natural 

 history of the country is concerned. 



From the little port of Husavik the travellers proceeded in a 

 southern direction till they came upon the Laxardal, a rugged 

 valley filled with lava, through which the Laxa pursues its irre- 

 gular course. After passing a few miles over the rough lava, 

 they arrived on the edge of a desert, four hours' journey across, 

 consisting of sand, pumice, and other volcanic substances, 

 wholly destitute of water and of vegetation. Beyond the sand 

 extends a prodigious stream of lava, being one of those which 

 issued from Krabla between the years 1724 and 1730, and inun- 

 dated nearly the whole of the plain along the northern and 

 eastern shores of the lake Myvatn. It still retains the original 

 freshness of its appearance. In colour, it is as black as jet; the 

 blisters and cracks by which its surface is diversified are of 

 enormous size, and most of the chasms are completely glazed, 

 and present the most beautiful and grotesque stalactitical masses. 



At Reykiahlid, one of the farm-houses, over-run by the fiery 

 deiuge, but which was afterwards rebuilt on nearly the same 

 spot, the travellers encamped for the night. The view from this 

 place is in an extreme degree savage and desolate. In front is 

 the Myvatn, or Gnat-lake, and the whole of the intervening 

 tract is one vast field of black, rough, and cavernous lava, pro- 

 jecting a considerable way into the lake, and forming innumer- 

 able creeks and promontories along the greater part of its 

 northern margin. To the north-west rise a number of barren 

 hills that open into the sandy deserts, leaving which, the eye 

 wanders over an extensive tract of moor, intersected by red 

 conical mountains, till, reaching the south side of the lake, it falls 

 in with several huge mountains of singular forms, and the Namar, 

 or sulphur mountains, from which a vast profusion of smoke is 

 constantly ascending, The most profound and death-like silence 



