TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION E. 859 
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 
The following Papers were read :— 
1. A Journey towards Lhasa. By W. A. L. Firtcuer. 
2. The Northern Glaciers of the Vatna Jékull, Iceland. By FREDERICK 
W. W. Howe t. 
The route taken was from Seydifjordr on the east coast, up the valley of the 
fine river lake Lagarflj6t. 
At Valthjéfstadr is the finest skogar, or wood, in the country, some trees (birch) 
being 20 to 25 feet high. Hengifoss is the loftiest waterfall in Iceland, the upper 
portion having a perpendicular drop of 350 feet. Surturbrand in the gil, 
Fleadquarters at Valthjofstadr. Thence two journeys: first vid Bri to the unknown 
valley of the Kverka, which river was followed to its source in an ice-cave in the 
Briar Jékull ; it abounds in quicksands, The second journey was from Valthjéfstadr 
to Snaefell and the Eyjabakka Jokull. 
In the winter of 1889-90 a volcanic eruption took place under the ice of these 
two glaciers, causing an enormous Jékulhlaup, or glacier leap. The whole face of the 
30 mile wide Briar Jékull was carried forward, in some places for nearly 6 English 
miles; and the face of the 15 mile wide Eyjabakka Jékull for 2 to 3 miles. The 
former has since retired 16 yards, and the latter about one-eighth of a mile. 
New cones on the Eyjabakka Jékull, reaching a height of 4 feet. 6in., afford an 
index to the rate of surface diminution which is not less than 8 inches per annum, 
The face of this glacier is extremely fine, the ice cliff being 100 feet high; and, 
being undermined by the river, it frequently gives way, exposing fresh sections. 
The flowers in the valley of the Jokulsa-i-Fljdtsdal call for special notice, 
Columnar basalt occurs throughout the district. Sneefell is not a single mountain, 
but a handsome group of ten to twelve peaks, mostly composed of tufa and cinder, 
The glaciers upon it are small, and lie at a high level. The junction of Jékulkvisl 
with Jékuls4-4-Brii is wrongly marked. Reindeer abound in the district. 
3. Notes on the less-known Interior of Iceland. By Karu GrossMann, 
M.D., FRC SE., PGS. 
The author's last journey to Iceland, which was undertaken in the summer 
1895, for the purpose of investigating leprosy amongst the inhabitants, admitted of 
an exploring excursion into the lonely district to the east of Hekla, while the 
crossing of the island from north to south gave occasion for examining parts 
equally interesting and equally unvisited. 
The eruptions of the various vents comprised under the name of the Hekla 
group are particularly rich in obsidian lavas. A very finely vesicular obsidian 
goes as far south as Storolfshvoll. Of very rugged character is the landscape of 
the Hrafntinnuhraun, most desolate, void of vegetation, full of voleanic ashes and 
sand and large torrents of a peculiar obsidian lava, on which in many places the 
three stages of pumice, obsidian, and banded rhyolite are seen in the same blocks, 
_ tlie three parts following in the order given from above downwards. 
The landscape in the neighbourhood of the large lake of Sudur Namur resembles 
a lunar landscape in appearance, Various exquisite craters are found here, 
amongst others one that is probably the finest ring crater in Iceland. On climbing 
up the wall of the ring a central cone is seen of perfect shape, built up of slags 
which form a sharp-edged hemispherical cup of beautiful regularity. 
The journey across the island was made from Akureyi by way of the 
Kyjafjardaré valley. The dense fogs made this part of the journey both difficult 
and obscured the views. When the plateau was reached, the clouds lifted, and 
the Hofsjékull was seen in all its enormous extent. 
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