OL A FSEN AND POVELSEN's 



form it in the dark,, and were exposed every instant to vio- 

 lent gusts of wind. We were forced several times to carry 

 the loads of our horses, to enable them to continue their pas- 

 sage : and it was necessary to make a number of windings before 

 we could arrive at the farm; which was five miles distant, and was 

 the only habitation on this coast. In our way thither, we had little 

 more satisfaction or rest than during the disagreeable descent we 

 had just performed; for it poured with rain, and the wind was 

 exceedingly high. There came occasionally some terrible gusts 

 towards that part of the mountain that contained the farm, and 

 where we had erected our tent. We heard during the night se- 

 veral disruptions ; occasioned by the force of the wind, which 

 detached large fragments from the rocks. While the inhabi- 

 tants of this farm were relating to us that on such occasions 

 considerable masses of stone were separated with a terrific 

 crash, we heard a tremendous noise in the direction of the rock, 

 resembling the repeated firing of artillery. On looking towards 

 the spot we saw a cloud of smoke, or rather dust, rising into the 

 air, and which proceeded from a new r excavation in the mountain. 

 Every person immediately ran, with a view to save himself, into 

 the open fields. Our own people, who had never been divested of 

 fear and terror during the journey, asserted, that they saw a mass 

 roll from the top of the mountain. At first we could not distinguish 

 the cause of the thick cloud of dust that obscured the air: but 

 we soon remarked that this fall had taken place directly before 

 us ; therefore we could not escape in that direction, and we did 

 not know on which side to make off, in order to avoid the dan- 

 ger. At length we discovered the place whence the fragment 

 had been detached from the rock. The few cattle belonging 

 to the farm, and our horses in particular, ran backward and for- 

 wards in the field as if they were mad. Happily, this enormous 

 mass of stone was propelled perpendicularly from the mountain ; 

 and, falling in a direct line upon a rock a little above our tent,, i; 

 broke into a thousand pieces. 



PRESENT MODE OF FLOATING WOOD. 



The Icelanders call the present mode of conveying wood 

 along the coast by water, Stokafarse; but it is not an advantage- 

 ous method, and the passage is dangerous. The inhabitants of 

 the district of Isefiord, and the northern part of Bardestrand, 

 "make these voyages in large canoes, containing eight or ten men. 

 On reaching the coast they make choice of the best timber, with 

 which they load their boat; and, making a raft of the overplus, 

 drag this after them. When they have a quick passage, and meet 

 with no accident, their expences are well paid ; otherwise this 

 is not the case, Sometimes their vessels, are wrecked : and 



