Queries regarding Iceland. 199 



ing that peculiar appendix of the eye, which is alleged to be pe- 

 culiar to it, and which seems to enfeeble its powers of vision ; 

 not forgetting the river swallow, which in Lapland, according 

 to Regnard and numerous authors, passes the winter, under the 

 water, in a state of absolute congelation, and is resuscitated by 

 the first heats of spring. 



This terminates the list of inquiries regarding Greenland. 

 The expedition will probably continue a longer time in Ice- 

 land. The following are some of the instructions given re- 

 garding it. — This spot, peopled by a Norwegian colony, has 

 been remarkable in very remote times for the taste it has dis- 

 played, we might call it a national passion, for the study of his- 

 tory. Hence those sagas or annals written so many ages ago in the 

 Scandinavian tongue, and in which some contemporary nations, 

 and especially the English, have found the original traces of 

 their old laws. If these documents had been examined in a me- 

 dical point of view, they might be found to contain some valua- 

 ble hints for the science, and Dr Gaymard will keep this in his 

 recollection. — Many phenomena occurring in the island connect- 

 ed with natural philosophy and geology, have hitherto been most 

 imperfectly observed. There are a great number of great caverns 

 in it, which are said to have been inhabited by giants, a report 

 which possibly owes its origin to large fossil bones having been 

 found in them. Respecting mineralogy the attention of the 

 party is directed to the numerous sulphur springs which abound, 

 and to the green lakes, the bottom of which is sulphur; also 

 to the petrified wood, crystals, and the transparent lava of 

 Krabla, which is cut without any preparation, to make optical 

 instruments. It will be important to determine on the spot the 

 composition of the numerous and varied mineral waters, their 

 temperature, and their effects both on man and the lower ani- 

 mals.* — Olafsen says that certain of its plants have the power of 

 fattening horses, though it somewhat weakens them, as also 

 cows, though it diminishes their milk. When forage fails, the 

 inhabitants are in the habit of giving the cattle the flesh of a ' 

 fish, the blennius (Linn.) for food, mixed with the bruised bones, 

 &c. of the cod-fish. It is stated that cows are very fond of this, 

 and that it produces a great quantity of milk, which, however, 



* Lapeyriere affirms that some of these spring waters, without any other 

 remedy, cure syphilis. This should be inquired into. 



