Appendix. 133 



[Fi*om the Penny Magazine, Dec. 21, 1833, p. 496.] 



"But the last great eruption (1783) was the most terrific of 

 all that are recorded. This proceeded from the mountain of 

 Skaptaa Jokul * * At that unhappy season an 



enormous column of fire cast its glare over the entire island, and 

 was seen from all sides at sea, and at a distance of many leagues. 

 Issuing forth with the fire, an immense quantity of brimstone, 

 sand, pumice stone, and ashes were carried by the wind and 

 strewed over the elevated land. The continual smoke and steam 

 darkened the sun, which in color looked like blood. During the 

 same summer the sun had a similar appearance in Great Britain, 

 and the same obscurity reigned in most parts of our island. 

 Many parts of Holland, Germany and other countries in the 

 north of Europe were visited by brimstone vapors, thick smoke 

 and light gray ashes. Ships sailing between Copenhagen and 

 Norway were covered with brimstone ashes, that stuck to their 

 sails, masts and decks. The whole face of the island has been 

 changed by these terrific convulsions, and Sir Geo. Mackenzie 

 thinks he is safe in estimating that one continued surface of 

 60,000 square miles has been subjected to the force of subter- 

 raneous fire in this part of the world." 



