72 



OLAFSEN AND POVELSEN ? S 



with so unfortunate an end ; but it did not stand long, as it was 

 destroyed a few years after its erection, by an ignorant man in 

 power, who came to reside in the HitardaL 



OF THE FARM AND TEMPLE OF IDOLS IN THE REYK- 

 HOLZDAL. 



At Hofstadt, in the valley of Reykholz, a little distance from 

 the place at which stands the church, was formerly built the most 

 ancient Pagan temple. This place was also the residence of 

 I/lnge, surnamedthe Red, who was one of the first conquerors of 

 the country. On leaving this spot, he made over to Hotm-Starre, 

 of Abranas, the care and direction of the temple, and bargained 

 with him not only for the exchange of all the property he pos- 

 sessed, but also for his wife named Igi i; the latter, however, not 

 being satisfied with the change, hung herself in the temple the 

 moment her husband had taken leave of her. 



JOURNEY TO THE WESTER JCEKEL. 



GLACIER OF SCHNEEFICELD. 



This western glacier, winch the inhabitants callSchneefioeldjcekei, 

 or, as it was formerly denominated, Sniofell, which means a rock 

 of snow, passes for the highest mountain in Iceland. It may be 

 considered as insulated from all the rest which stand around it, 

 tmd it rises much above them. On our approach towards it, we 

 passed by several caverns, which, like those already mentioned, 

 had evidently been formed either by subterraneous fires, or a 

 natural sinking of the soil. Beneath them we found a number of 

 plants jthat had grown to an extraordinary height between the rocks, 

 being nourished by the heat of the ground, though the rays of the 

 sun never reached them ; from which it is clear, that this vegeta- 

 tion is produced entirely by the heat concentrated in the bowels 

 of the earth. Several plants were also growing amongst the lava, 

 as well as between the uppermost rocks ; and amongst others 

 were some shrubs of birch, heath, &c. on which the sheep de- 

 pastured bcth in winter and summer. 



Among these caves is one called the u Cavern of Blood," and 

 not only strangers, but likewise the inhabitants of the island, never 

 pass near it without paying it a visit. It is situated amongst some 

 rocks of sand-stone, a little beyond the Strappefell, which is a 

 high peak below the neck of the glacier. The entrance to this* 

 cavern is so narrow, that the visitor is obliged to creep into 

 it on his belly. Within it is about fifteen feet high, by ten 

 wide; but not so wide at top as at bottom. Towards the top it 

 separates into two concave arches, which appear to have been 

 formed by the action of the air and wind, to which, from its con- 



