53 
of Edinburgh, Session 1875 - 76 . 
to the south-west; and a rivulet of almost transparent water flowed 
to the north-west , where it formed a little basin under the rocks. 
The expedition did not attempt the cliff because they had no 
ropes, and both rocks and snow were cracked and crevassed. A 
little further west rose the third crater, which vomited only 
smoke. Its “Vinkil” or apex was a horseshoe, with the two 
heels to the north and the toe facing south. 
It is perhaps a little higher than the level of 
the My-vatnssveit (the adjoining midge-lake N- 
country). If much more lava flow, it must be 
filled up, and then the fiery torrent will run over 
and along the cliff to the sandy waste on the left 
bank of the Jokulsa. East of the new mountain and the recess was 
an old Hraun or lava stream, which seemed to have discharged east- 
wards ; the bed showed no signs of craters nor volcanic vents, but 
the snow will prevent till next summer any examination of the 
Steintegundir (minerals). 
Ash showers have been blown to the north-east of the Austur- 
f j oil and, falling on the grass, which was bare of snow, they will 
probably injure the pastures. It is reported that stone-rain ex- 
tended to Kelduhver east of the Reykjarheifti. About New Year’s 
day, an earthquake opened great crevasses where formerly the 
ground was smooth. These movements were numerous near the 
volcano. The expedition built a snow-house under the ravine- 
cliff, but the falling stones compelled them to abandon it. 
The “Norftanfari” of February 19, relates that during the winter 
of 1874-5, a strong earthquake, proceeding from the southern or outer 
Dyngjufjoll (hin fremri), shook the farms of Viftidal, Grrimstaftir, and 
MoSrudal dFjollum, in the latter levelling some buildings. From No. 
13 of March 3, we learn that four men of My-vatn (My-vatningar) set 
out on Feb. 15, directly southwards, and after walking 24 hours, 
hearing frightful subterranean thunders (dunur) like cataracts from 
a mountain, and smelling sulphur fumes (eldlykt), they reached the 
Askja, which has been incorrectly laid down on the map. The jets 
of stone and lava, thrown many feet high, prevented them approach- 
ing nearer than 60 to 70 fathoms. The vents consisted of one 
large focus and of many small parasites, a single one discharging 
lava. In early February smoke appeared every day, and presently 
