214 GEOLOGICAL FACTS OBSERVED 



cano. The results which I suppose may have attended a sub- 

 marine eruption at a great depth, will be quoted in the se- 

 quel. x 



The following observations of Landt, respecting the forma- 

 tion of these islands, contributed essentially to confirm the de- 

 sire I felt to explore the country. It must be believed, that 

 this clergyman had possessed some previous knowledge of the 

 igneous theories. " It would form," says he, " a curious ob- 

 ject of research to inquire, in what manner the Faroe hills have 

 been formed, and how they attained their present elevation ; 

 whether above or under water ? Whether they owe their 

 height to volcanic explosions, which threw one stratum above 

 another, or whether these strata were deposited upon each 

 other under the water, and were afterwards raised to their pre- 

 sent situation by a volcanic eruption, or some elastic force pro- 

 duced by subterranean inflammation ; or whether these hills 

 have been formerly covered by the sea, which has since retired 

 back, in consequence of some convulsion of nature * ?" 



A^ain ; " But in examining the bottoms of the hills along the 

 sea-coast, one will often discover indubitable marks of volcanic 

 eruptions, or of some other convulsion of nature, which has 

 acted a distinguished part in the formation of the singular phe- 

 nomena which here present themselves to the eye of the curi- 

 ous observer. It is seen in many places close to the water's 

 edge, that the matter of which the rock is formed has been in 

 a state of fusion, and has become hard in its, course. Some- 

 times this hardened matter is smooth on the surface, but has 

 the appearance of the ice on a stream or rivulet, where the wa- 

 ter rises above the first crust, and forms several strata, one 

 above the other ; but sometimes this hardened matter is rough, 



and 



* Landt, Translation, Lond. 1810, p. 5. 



