224 GEOLOGICAL FACTS OBSERVED 



Thus it appears, that the marks of fusion, exhibited by the 

 upper, as well as the under surfaces of the beds, are equally 

 reconcileable to the supposition of their having flowed in a 

 state of fusion at the bottom of the sea. 



Another point of resemblance between Iceland and Faroe 

 remains to be noticed. Landt, in his description of Faroe, 

 (which, as far as I had the opportunity of judging on the spot, 

 is a very faithful one, though his translator does not always do 

 him justice), mentions great fissures which can often be traced 

 from one island to another. We found that these fissures had 

 been originally entirely filled with veins of basalt ; and in those 

 only did that rock occur to our observation. Being columnar, 

 and the columns being perpendicular to the walls, the ba- 

 salt is easily broken down ; and water-courses being form- 

 ed, the veins are soon worn away. On examining the 

 sides of the veins, we found, though not in every instance, 

 a vitreous coating, similar to what was observed on those of 

 Iceland. 



Thus, the perfect resemblance between the trap rocks of Fa- 

 roe, and those of Iceland, seems to be completely established. 

 The beds are separated by the same substance, viz. layers and 

 beds of tuffa. They present indications of fusion ; and Fa- 

 roe has afforded some of a new and very decided charac- 

 ter. I have heard that similar appearances exist in Norway ; 

 and it is not improbable, if geologists take the trouble of look- 

 ing for them, that such will be found in every country whol- 

 ly composed of trap ; and that the igneous origin of that 



genus 



the fact of -water being found in the vesicles of basalt and other rocks, may 

 be accounted for. It must be observed that the steam, in such circumstan- 

 ces, must have been very much condensed, so much, indeed, as to be almost 

 in the state of water greatly heated ; much more so than in the familiar ex- 

 periment made with Papin's digester.'" 



