SPRINGS, RIVERS, CANALS, LAKES, 



The resemblance of these clays to jasper is so striking to the 

 *ye. that I cannot fcrbear believing their origin to be similar, at 

 least, that some circumstances in the formation of each are the 

 same. You will say, with reason, that the difference, notwithstand- 

 ing the apparent similitude, is in reality very wide; that these clays 

 before they can be converted into jaspers, require to be consoli- 

 dated aud impregnated with a considerable proportion of siliceous 

 earth. It is something, however, to have detected nature in the 

 act of forming, in any substance, the veins and figures common to 

 marbles and jaspers. \Vhat still remains of t!:e process, afler thus 

 much of it has been traced, may not long continue unknown; and 

 in Iceland, probably sooner than elsewhere, will l>e discovered beds 

 of clay, like this, hardening into stone, either by the effect of sub. 

 terraneous heat or pressure promoting an adhesion of the particles, 

 ur by some insinuation of matter (perhaps siliceous) into the pores 

 of the mass 



There is another fountain in the valley not much inferior in 

 beauty to that which 1 have described. It breaks out from under 

 one of the mounds close to the river. Jts eruptions are, 1 think, in 

 some respects, more beautiful than those of the former. They rise 

 nearly to the same heights, and the quantity of water thrown up at 

 one time is greater, and not so much scattered into i-pray. The 

 jets continue seldom longer than. a minute, and the intervals between 

 them are from live to six minutes. They are forced to bend for- 

 wards from the well, by the shelving of the bank, or probably their 

 height would be very considerable ; for they appear to be thrown 

 up with great force. WV never dared approach near enough to 

 look deep into the well; but we could perceive the water boiling 

 near the surface from time to time, with much violence. The 

 ground in front of it, was covered with a white incrustation, of a 

 more beautiful appearance than the deposition near any other spring 

 in tins place. By a trial of it with acids, it seemed almost entirely 

 calcareous. 



1 have now described to yon the two most remarkable fountains 

 in the valley of Kykum, the only two which throw up water to a 

 considerable height with any regularity. There are some from 

 whence, in the course of every hour or half hour, beautiful jets 

 burst out unexpectedly ; but their eruptions continue only a few 



