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Proceedings of the Royal Society 
was on April 13. By that time the area of the foci (eldgigar) was 
about 40 square fathoms; and where the ground before was level, 
rose a lava hill 30 to 60 feet high. The greatest flow was to the 
north, and southwards a fire stream (eldgos), one mile long and 500 
fathoms broad, was covered with high and rough blisters ; and was 
overhung with whitey-blue fumes. The view was confined by the 
fine dust to 300 feet : during daylight it wore the semblance of a 
mirage (Landjoldu or TitSbrd), and at night it became a pillar of fire. 
Our disappointment was tempered by meeting a party of three 
Icelanders driving two ponies, whose imitation Icelandic coffers 
bespoke the English owner. The head guide introduced himself 
as P&ll P&lsson ; I recognised him as the godfather of u Mount 
Paul” in the heart of the V&tnajokull. Led by Mr W. L. Watts, 
he and five other islanders set out from the Nupstaftir farm on 
June 24, and after twelve nights and days (July 7) in the snow, 
the adventurous band issued from the great neve between Kis- 
tufell and Kverkfjoll, and on July 10 — a fortnight and more — 
they reached G-rimstaftir, whither their horses had been sent 
round via the Eastern path. This is, indeed, a unique 
feat of travel which I hope will not be its own reward. Paul, 
who was physically as well as morally the best type of an 
Icelander, accompanied us to our head-quarters at ReykjahlfS 
and gave me a detailed account of the southern outbreaks. He 
saw south-east of the Kistufell and north of the Yatnajokull, but 
not in the snow, two small smokes, remnants of Nos. 1 and 2, dis- 
tant some six hours’ ride, and three others appeared in the Dyng- 
jufjoll. This account was confirmed by Dr P. E. Julius Hall- 
ddrsson, government physician of the Thingeyjar Sysla. Both 
agreed that No. 4 was still active, and they placed the site on 
the south-eastern bend of the Askja or southern Dyngjufjoll 
the curious horseshoe of the map which they would break up 
into detached hills, and would moreover open to the N.E. 
instead of the N.N.E. The lava on April 10 was about three 
(Danish) miles long by a maximum of half a mile broad. At night 
tne farm rooms were completely illuminated by the fire-blush 
(EldroSi), and when this ceased violent earthquakes came on. 
Showers of ashes fell north of My-vatn (Thingeyjar Sysla), and 
more copiously in the Jokulsdal (Miila Sysla), covering the ground 
