ICELAND. 



403 



the 



The water 



neighborhood 



thfiir subterranean caverns. Tracts of lava traverse the island in every direction. The gene- 

 ral appearance of the country is the most rugged and dreary imaginable. On every side are the 

 yawning craters of active or extinguished volcanoes, the sources of (he surrounding desolation. 

 In many places the basalt takes the form of immense masses of pillars, like the well-known 

 Giant's Causeway in Ireland. 



The hot springs of this island are very remarkai)le, and are quite numerous. The most 



celebrated is the Great Geyser, in 

 of Mount Hecla. 

 boils will) a loud, rumbling 

 noise, in a well of an irregular form, 

 about 10 feet in diameter, widening 

 near the top, and opening into a basin 

 56 feet by 4G. lis explosions are 

 announced by sounds resembling the 

 low report of artillery. The first 

 jets which are thrown up, seldom ex- 

 ceed 15 or 20 feet, but the highest 

 often exceed SO. On the propulsion 

 of the jet, the great body of the co- 

 lumn rises perpendicularly, and then 

 divides into beautiful curvated ramifi- 

 cations, which are projected in every 

 direction. The explosions of the 

 Great Geyser take place at intervals 

 There are many other inferior springs of boiling water, and several of boil- 



Grcat Gcy.<er. 



of about 6 hours, 

 ing mud. 



At Surtshellir is a long cavern, 40 feet high, 50 broad, and 5,034 in length. The entrance is 

 through several chasms in the roof. It was evidently formed by volcanic agency, and is sup- 

 posed by the natives to have been formerly the residence of the king of the regions of fire. 

 One of the minor caves is beautifully coated with pure ice in every form of crystalization. 



5. JVatural Productions. Among the vegetables is a species of wild wlieat, \\hich may be 

 made into good flour. Besides the lichens, there are many anti-scorbulic roots, and several 

 marine plants, which are used as food. Wild berries of an excellent flavor are found in abun- 

 dance. Of late years, gardening has been practised throughout the country, but with little 

 success. There are no better trees than birch and brushwood. Immense quantities of pine, 

 firs, and other trees, however, are thrown upon the northern coasts. 



6. Minerals. A very singular mineral production of this island is a kind of fossil wood, 

 black, heavy, and slightly carbonized, burning with flame. There is another kind of mineral 

 wood, heavier than coal, which burns without flame, and contains chalcedony in its transverse 

 fissures. Of the ordinary lava, there are several diflerent formations. The central mountains 



contain copper and iron ; which are not wrought for want of 

 fuel ; also marble, lime, plaster, porcelain clay, several kinds 

 of bole, onyx, agate, jasper, and an abundance of sulphur. 



7. Towns, Population, &c. The capital is ReykiaviJi ; it 

 is a seaport with some trade. The other considerable towns 

 are Holm and Ilusarik. The chief agricultural product is hay. 

 Most of the inhabitants are employed in fishing. The trade 

 consists in the exportation of fish, oil, skins, feathers, and sul- 

 phur. The population is about 50,000. 



8. Inhabitants. The Icelanders are rather tall, of a frank, 

 open countenance, florid complexion, and yellow, flaxen hair. 

 The women are short in proportion to the men, and inclined 

 to corpulency. 



9. Dress. The common dress of the men is a linen shirt, a 

 short jacket, and wide breeches reaching above the jacket. 

 The men wear three-cornered hats. The most curious part of 

 the female dress is the turban, of white linen, stiffened with a 



and about 20 inches in height. It is fastened to the head bv a dark-siiK 



Icelanders. 



great many pins, 



