TRAVELS IN ICELAND. 



7 



of fresh water, containing plenty of trout. The principal lake 

 is the Medalfells-Vata, in the diocese of Kim, and from this 

 is formed lie Laxaa: it surpasses all the others in grandeur and 

 utility ; and affords throughout the year a quantity of trout of 

 a most excellent flavour. The springs and rivulets yield abun- 

 dance of very limpid water throughout the whole country ; but it 

 is rather of a styptic quality, probably, in consequence of the 

 ferruginous earths through which it filtrates. The in- 

 habitants, however, do not experience the least inconvenience 

 from this circumstance. In the eastern part of the first diocese 

 called Mosfell-Sweit, are some hot mineral springs, the water 

 of which is light, limpid, and tasteless ; while its degree of heat 

 will admit of the immersion of the hand without scalding. One 

 remarkable effect of this water merits attention. The pebbles 

 over which it runs in the open air, are covered by it with a 

 thin white incrustation, on which aquafortis will not act. 



OF THE AIR. AND TEMPERATURE. 



Although the frost in this country is not very severe, the air 

 is sensibly affected by the saline vapours, conveyed from the 

 sea by the W. S. W. and N. W. winds ; hence the inhabitants 

 complain of extreme cold, though the thermometer is only at 

 zero; while, on the other hand, it does not affect them, when 

 with the N. and N. E. winds, the thermometer is at its lowest 

 degree. It is also remarkable, that the cattle left in winter in 

 the fields, are much more sensible of the W. than of the N. E. 

 winds. To the saline vapours may also be attributed the frequent 

 rains that fall in the vallies, while it snows in the mountains. It 

 also often happens, that rain falls in the canton of Kios, while 

 the environs are perfectly dry. This undoubtedly arises from 

 the clouds breaking against the mountains that surround the 

 plains. 



OF THE HEAT AND COLD. 



In winter the cold is not very severe ; for, from various ob-* 

 nervations with Fahrenheit's thermometer, it is ascertained, that 

 the extreme degree does not pass beyond 24 or 20, except when 

 the sky is very serene ; at which time the mercury falls to 12> 

 and sometimes even into the bowl. The greatest degrees of cold 

 prevail in January, February, aud March. 



PERNICIOUS WINDS OF SPRING. 



In April and May there occurred strong easterly winds which 

 are very cold ; and when they are of long continuance, they 

 weaken the cattle to such a degree, that they often die. They 

 also dry up the ground so as to prevent the grass and plants 

 from shooting in the ensuing summer. 



