130 SPRINGS, HIVEKS, CANALS, LAKES, 



characteristic of the manners of the Icelanders. Several times duriug 

 my stay in the country, I experienced this succession of civility to 

 coldness. The Icelanders are naturally good, but not easily roused 

 to feeling. When once their constitutional indifference was overcome 

 \ve usually found them desirous of pleasing, and zealous to do us 

 service. 



As the house was not sufficiently large to contain the whole of 

 Our party, we were under the necessity of returning again to t he church 

 as soon as our baggage arrived. Here we passed the first and second 

 nights of our stay, in the neighbourhood of the springs. On the 

 third day, we left Haukadal, to fix ourselves in some station nearer 

 to them, from which we could watch their eruptions with more 

 convenience. 



The view from near the church was very beautiful. It extended 

 toward the south along the plain into an open country. On the 

 other side?, it was bounded by hills, which had not the barren and 

 rugged appearance that deform almost every scene in this division 

 of the island. It was, however, still finer from some of the eminences 

 near the springs. The plain and the surrounding mountains, seen 

 from a height, appeared to more advantage ; and the eruptions 

 from the great wells breaking from time to time the general still- 

 ness that prevailed, were much more distinct. The course of the 

 river, winding under the eye, could be traced with greater accu- 

 racy. It flows through the plain into an open country, where, 

 being increased by the waters of numerous streams and rivulets, it 

 bends to the westward, and near Skalholt falls into a considerable 

 river, the Huit.aa. 



The pleasant and fertib pastures near its banks were enlivened 

 by numerous herds of cattle and sheep, the united riches of three 

 or four farmers in the neighbourhood of Haukadal. The mowers 

 also at work in the different fields surrounding each house, gave 

 at this season additional beauty to the prospect. High hills to the 

 westward were separated from the eminencies immediately above 

 the springs by a narrow valley. They were partly clothed with 

 bushes of birch, which, although in no place above five foot high, 

 were gratifying to the sight, which so seldom in Iceland can rest on 

 any appearance even of underwood. Above these, some vegetation 

 till continued to cover the sides of the hills, and Mr. Wright found 



