History of Animal Plagues. 511 



dations of the lava, and, in part, by the fiiminc resulting from 

 the showers of ashes throughout the island, and which destroyed 

 the vesietation ; and also bv the desertion of the eoasts bv the 

 fish.^ A black smoke covered the island, and was observed 

 throughout Europe during the whole summer, especially towards 

 the end of June was it observed in the most distant regions 

 when the wind began to blow from the north. In Germany we 

 have the effects of this terrestrial commotion noted as follows : 

 ' This vapour arose first in June, and lasted the whole of July 

 and August almost without cessation. It caused a sensation of 

 warmth, and the weather was often excessively hot; the sun 

 was not quite obscured, but had generally a fiery red appearance, 

 which was noticed by night as well as by day. I observed no 

 particular smell, but the haze was of a dry nature, and it did not 

 prevent rain or storms, though it appeared injurious to the 

 plants; I well remember that most of the trees lost all their 

 leaves from it. . . . Since 1783, I have never again seen such a 

 dense wide vapour with all its peculiarities; all those I have 

 since observed have been the usual fogs.' ^ 



The best description of this serious catastrophe in Iceland 

 is that given by a competent observer, the Etatsroed Stephenson, 

 who was present during the latter part of the calamity, Erom 

 this description we will make the following pertinent extracts. 

 ' After the first breaking out of the fire (after the 1st of June), 

 a great quantity of ashes, sand, and sulphureousdust was thrown 

 over the adjacent districts, particularly those of Siden and Fliotsh- 

 verfet. The long continuance of westerly winds, too, drove the 

 sandbank away from Skaptarlungen to the place just mentioned; 

 and the vast quantity of burning sand falling around scorched up 

 all the grass in the fields about Eliotshverfet to such a degree, 

 that there were no means of support for the cattle, and the in- 

 habitants fled from all the farms in this district, excepting the 

 most easterly one, called Nupstad, which, together with the 

 neighbouring fiirm of Raudaberg, remained uninjured by the hot 



' Lyell. Principles of Geology. 



- Finke. Nalurhist. bumcrk. iiber flen Moor(l;inii»f., ]i. 26. 

 3 Kort IJeskrivclsc over den nye Vulcans Ildspruduiiig i Vcstcr-Sknptcficlds 

 Syssel paa Island i aarct, 1 783. Copenhagen, 17S5. 



