TRAVELS IN ICELAND. 



125 



of an ox having fallen into the crater, and being afterwards ex- 

 pelled from another at some distance. But the most probable 

 origin of the name is, that the noise resembles the bellowing of 

 an ox. The Oxehver propels the water to the height of eight 

 feet for about a minute, or till that in the bason is reduced 

 about a foot and a half : it then ceases for two or three minutes, 

 at which time the water in the bason has regained its level; a 

 harsh noise is then heard in the earth, similar to that from 

 the discharge of several muskets, on which the water begins 

 to issue with impetuosity. At a short distance farther to 

 the north is a small hot spring, which the inhabitants use for 

 bending wood ; as the water possesses the singular property 

 of softening and even consuming wood that is left in it a short? 

 time, to such a degree that nothing but the filaments remain, 

 and it is difficult to distinguish to what substance these belong. 

 The natural colour disappears; and the wood becomes white, 

 blueish, and somewhat transparent : under this state it much 

 resembles asbestos, and when the filaments are separated they 

 might be taken for fine silk-thread. This singular metamorphosis 

 is the more worthy of attention, because it is on a substance 

 thus prepared that the thermal waters exert their petrifying qua- 

 lity in impregnating the matter of the particulis tophaceis. 



METEORIC PHENOMENA. 



The northern quarter of Iceland often affords a spectacle of 

 igneous meteors, but particularly lightning and other calorific 

 phenomena, which originate from the volcanoes and vast glaciers 

 in the middle of the island. The atmosphere is sometimes red 

 and loaded with flame ; while at others there may be seen ignited 

 globes and trains of fire like comets, which dart backwards and 

 forwards to a great extent. — Several of the inhabitants of this 

 quarter, and particularly of the district of Hunavatn, perceived at 

 the end of September 1755 a phenomenon of this kind. An 

 earthquake, which was felt in the whole of the northern district, 

 preceded the appearance of the meteor ; and was considered as 

 the indication of the eruption of mount Katlegiaa, which actually 

 took place about the middle of October. The earthquake began 

 by five or six shocks at eight o'clock in the morning, and towards 

 nine several others occurred, which were announced by a hissing 

 m the air: the ground then shook, and at first experienced a 

 number of gentle though considerable motions; bur afterwards 

 the concussions were frequent and violent. We happened to be 

 present when this event occurred, and our tent made frequent 

 springs in consequence of the undulating motion of the ground : 

 at the same instant we heard a terrible noise, the shock of which 

 threw us out of our tent; when we saw all the mountains enve- 



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