128 



OLAFSEN 



AND POVELSEN8 



feet in thickness, soon hardened like stone; but when new 

 waves of fire arrived they broke, melted, and carried off the 

 crust, as a thawing stream dislodges and conveys away the ice. 

 In concretion the lava assumed different and very. curious figures; 

 as those of flowers, works of sculpture, &c. After the volcano 

 had ceased to vomit fire and formed its incrustation, the bottom 

 of the currents of lava remained a long time in fusion,, and con- 

 tinued to run under the crust in such parts as were sloping : in 

 forcing its passage the fiery substance generally broke the con- 

 densed crust, and thus occasioned many crevices and caverns 

 internally vitrified, with stalactites suspended on their sides. The 

 most intense fire of these volcanic currents vitrifies, calcines, or 

 reduces to ashes, every thing with which it comes in contact; and 

 when it consumes itself in a rock it leaves nothing but the ashes 

 of the matter in fusion. 



OF BLOOD IN THE SEA. 



This phenomenon is well known in other countries, but seldom 

 occurs in Iceland. It was perceived in 171- on the coast of Rey- 

 kestrand, from the shore to a considerable distance in the sea. 

 The oars of the fishermen were tinged red, as were the rocks be- 

 low high-water-mark. The historian says, to make use of his 

 own words, " that they were dyed or covered with coagulated 

 blood;" which proves that the writer, as well as the people, con- 

 ceived it to be that substance in reality. The same phenomenon 

 was observed in 1049 m the western quarter, about two leagues in 

 the sea : on the preceding night the water appeared to be all on 

 fire, and the next day it was red. It must therefore arise from 

 something of a phosphoric nature; but we cannot decide whe- 

 ther this proceeded from marine insects, or some maritime plant. 



VARIOUS REMARKABLE CIRCUMSTANCES. 



We shall here record a few observations which / we conceive to 

 be of interest. . ,. . _ ,. . ; 



I. The first church for christian worship was that built at Aas, 

 in the canton of Hialtedai near Holun, in the year 9B5: it was 

 erected by order -of bishop Thorvard Spakbodvarson. 



II. The small farm called Kalvskind, near Oefiord, is cele- 

 brated from having been the residence of Rorek, king of the 

 upper countries of Norway. Having been vanquished and 

 made prisoner by Olaf the Holy, king of Norway, who put out 

 his eyes, he was transported to Iceland; and was no where happy 

 except in the little farm above-mentioned, which was then kept 

 by a poor peasant. 



III. Printing was introduced into Iceland by a Swedish priest 

 named John Matthieson, who practised it in the district of Hu> 



