138 



OLAFSEN AND POVELSEn's 



they cracked continually under our feet, which at first gave us 

 much uneasiness ; but on investigation. we observed that the rock 

 itself had been consumed and was reduced to pumice stone, which 

 was disposed in thin horizontal layers, fractured in every direction. 

 From this circumstance an idea may he formed of the intensity 

 of the fire which could thus consume a whole mountain : for 

 if Hecla were for a few times to take fire again, all the rocks 

 that compose it would fall into ashes. 



We continued to ascend without meeting any obstacles that 

 impeded our attempts, by small slopes which we found at inter- 

 vais, of which we passed seven before reaching the summit. We 

 found in the breaches and fissures, which were ver numerous, 

 a quantity of white, black, and red, polishing-stones (skuurstem), 

 the first of which was uncommonly fine and light. This circum- 

 stance tends to support the account of mount Hecla having 

 vomited water, though in a far less quantity than the devastating 

 torrents of Katlegiaa. Here has also been found after the 

 different eruptions of mount Hecla, a great quantity of salt, 

 sufficient to load a number of horses, w hich in no small degree 

 tends to confirm the opinion of the connection between vol- 

 canoes and the sea. Such a communication may reasonably be 

 presumed, particularly with respect to the volcanoes and gla- 

 ciers of the eastern parts of Iceland, on account of the great 

 extent of their bases: in fact, these mountains vomit a much 

 greater quantity of water than the solution of the ice would 

 afford; and it has even been observed, that these waters possess 

 a brackish taste. With respect to mount Hecla, it may as an 

 objection to this theory be observed, that a vast quantity of rock 

 salt may be contained within it; but its bowels undoubtedly 

 extend to a level with the sea. Besides, independently of the 

 opinion so generally received by learned men or all countries, 

 that there is a secret connection between this mountain and Etna 

 in Sicily, since the two volcanoes have so often been observed to 

 burn at the same time, a number of curious examples are known 

 which prove the sympathy between Hecla at the time of its 

 eruptions, and the other volcanoes in Iceland more distant from 

 it than it is itself from the sea. 



It was on the night of the 19th June that w e ascended the 

 mountain. The weather was serene and calm, but when we had 

 attained a certain height we began to feel cold: the surface 

 was covered with ice and snow ; not how 7 ever of the nature of 

 those of the glaciers, because here the ice melts in summer, 

 except such as remains in the deep fissures and holes. On 

 reaching the ice we found it covered with snow that had lately 

 fallen, which w r e ascertained to be deeper and deeper in proportion 

 as we ascended : at the summit of the crater it was a foot and a 



