TRAVELS IN ICELAND. 



101 



and stones. This hurricane arose in an instant, and subsided in 

 the same sudden manner. It was, however, impossible to check 

 the ridiculous opinion which the inhabitants entertained ; and they 

 continued to believe that sorcery was the occasion of all their 

 alarms, notwithstanding our endeavours to convince them that 

 the hurricane originated entirely from the state of the atmo- 

 sphere. 



DANGEROUS ASCENT OP THE DRANGAR. 



On the 31st August we crossed the Gulf of Ofeig, in order 

 to arrive at Drangue, by travelling along the shores ; and on 

 reaching Angenaes we had a full view of the tine rock of 

 Drangar, from which the glacier takes its name. This promon- 

 tory is composed of seven points : those in front are lowest, and 

 extend into the sea from east to west ; the four to the east, on 

 the contrary, are much higher and very pointed. The mountain 

 itself is from three to four hundred fathoms in height,- but the 

 Drangar has not by far so great an elevation. A very dan- 

 gerous road runs between these mountainous summits ; but the 

 inhabitants nevertheless pass along it to go to their church at 

 Aarnaes. 



The Drangue-Viig, situated between Eugenass and the Dran- 

 gar, is an agreeable country, covered with herbage, and was for- 

 merly inhabited : it contains a quantity of timber for ship build- 

 ing, and a few islets which are near the shore afford abundant 

 supplies of sea-fowls' eggs. 



There is no road which either leads to or crosses these rocks. 

 We attempted to climb them, as we were assured by our guide 

 that others had succeeded in ascending them on horseback. This 

 undertaking, however, was equally difficult and dangerous : for 

 we were obliged to go on our hands and knees, and to drag our 

 horses after us ; as, though they were accustomed to walk on rocks, 

 it was here necessary every instant to assist them, and prevent 

 them from slipping or stumbling, which they frequently did in the 

 crevices and holes. We were often compelled to get over a kind 

 of steps or projections, which were upwards of four feet in 

 height. When our horses attempted to leap up them, the bag- 

 gage with which they were loaded fell off, and every thing brittle 

 which it contained was sure to be broken. — Towards night, how- 

 ever, we succeeded in gaining the summit. We found it level ; 

 and it appeared like a floor laid with slate, in pentagons and hep- 

 tagons: its composition, on the whole, was exactly similar to 

 that of the basaltic rocks already mentioned. 



To return seemed to be attended with as much danger as 

 pur ascent. The declivity was very steep ; and what rendered it 

 more difficult and dangerous was, that we were obliged to per- 



