CATARACTS, AND INUNDATIONS. I<2<> 



water from time to time by sudden jets into the air. Many springs 

 in this place, as in the other, boil through strata of coloured clay, by 

 which they were rendered turbid. Here, however, the red clays 

 were brighter, and in a greater proportion to the clays of other 

 colours. Here also, as in the valley of R\kum, are many small 

 springs, which throw out sulphureous vapour, and near which the 

 ground, and the channel of the water, are covered and lined with 

 a thin coat of sulphur. 



The farm of Haukadal, and the church of the parish, stand near 

 to each other, about three quarters of a mile beyond the great spring. 

 The house is one of the best built in Iceland. It occupies a large 

 space of ground, and consists of several divisions, to each of which 

 there is an entrance from without. Some of these are used as barns 

 and stables for the cattle, and others as work-shops*. The dwelling 

 part of this house was small but comfortable. There was a parlour 

 with glass windows, a kitchen, r.nd separate bed-chambers for the fa. 

 mily. The building was partly of stone, partly of wood, and cover- 

 cd with sods, under which the bark of birch trees on boards are ge- 

 nerally placed, as a greater security against rain. 



We were obliged to the mistress of this farm, who was a rich 

 widow, for a very hospitable reception, although at first she seemed 

 to consider us rather as unwelcome visitors, and left us, though we 

 had requested admittance into her house, as we were drenched with 

 rain, and our tents and baggage not yet arrived, to take up our 

 lodging in the church. \Ye had not been long there, however* 

 before she invited us to her house, and by her kindness made ample 

 amends for her former inattention. She put us in possession of her 

 best room, and set before us plenty of good cream, some wheat 

 cakes, sugar, and a kind of tea made of the leaves of the dryas 

 octopetala t. 



I mention these circumstances of our reception at Haukadal, as 



* As the division of labour is yet very imperfect in Iceland, the farmer is 

 under the necessity, cither of exercising himself the several trades required in 

 the formation of the instruments of agriculture, or of maintaining such servants 

 as are capable to supply them. 



+ Called in English the Mountain Avens. We found this plant growing very 

 luxuriantly, and in great abundance, on every part of Iceland that we visited* 



VOL. III. K 



