86 THE KRISUVIK SULPHUR-BANKS OF ICELAND. 



would have been about 3,100 miles from the Free-trade Hall. However, 

 the communication with Nicolaev direct, via Berlin, St Petersburg, Moscow, 

 and Odessa, is a feat which we believe to be unsurpassed in the annals of 

 telegraphy. The last most distant station spoken to by the Electric and 

 International Telegraph Company was Odessa, by a much more direct 

 route, a distance of about 2,200 miles ; whereas the distance by way of 

 St Petersburg, &c, to Nicolaev, is over 3,000 miles. 



After many other interesting experiments, the President proposed a 

 vote of thanks to Mr Grove for his address, and to Professor Clifton for the 

 arrangements which he had made. Tbe vote was given by acclamation. 



Ten words per minute were obtained between Manchester and St 

 Petersburg, and seven words per minute were obtained between Man- 

 chester and Odessa. 



One of the answers from Odessa was commenced in Manchester in less 

 than three seconds after the message from Manchester was completed. 



THE KRISUVIK SULPHUR-BANKS OF ICELAND. 



BY CAPT. CHARLES S. FORBES, R.N. 



The geologic aspect of the volcanic system is distinguished by the vast 

 palagonite mountain-ranges of which it is formed ; and they constitute the 

 basis of thermal phenomena in Iceland. In the sulphur districts, volcanic 

 and aqueous gases, especially sulphuric, bursting upwards, decompose the 

 palagonite, and convert it into masses of ferruginous and fumerole clay of 

 various hues. These sulphurous gases, on meeting the atmosphere, are 

 decomposed, and the sulphur precipitated in banks varying in thickness 

 and purity according to their age and position. 



"We found the ascent both greasy and arduous over the soft beds of 

 white, red, and blue clays ; the former containing from thirty to forty per 

 cent, of sulphur, and the two latter, which form the lower and more 

 extensive portion, about sixteen per cent. As we advanced, we were obliged 

 to make a long detour, to avoid the sulphureous column of vapour swept 

 down by the wind from this main centre of sublimation, and the stench 

 was intolerable. The crust became hotter and hotter, and the clays 

 lighter ; and at every step we displaced whole barrowfuls in our struggle 

 for a footing, vapour breaking out of the exposed surface, which was much 

 too warm to bear the hand upon. Ultimately we arrived at the weather- 

 side of the bank, and found it of considerable extent, covered with a crust 

 two to three feet in depth, of almost pure sulphur ; for in specimens we 

 selected at random, only y^- parts of foreign matter could be found. 



In the valley beyond, about fifty feet beneath us, lay a huge caldron, 

 twelve feet in diameter, in full blast, brimming and seething with boiling 

 blue mud, that spluttered up in jets five or six feet in height, diffusing 

 clouds of vapour in every direction. If a constant calm prevailed here, 



