652 
VOLCANOES IN ICELAND. 
Its first signs were observed on the first of June, by a trembling of 
the earth in the western part of the province of Shapterfial. It 
increased gradually to the llth, and became at last so great that the 
inhabitants quitted their houses, and lay at nights in tents on the 
ground. A continual ssnoke was seen rising out of the earth, in the 
northern and uninhabited parts of the country. Three hre-spouts, as 
they were called, broke out in different places : one in Alfarsdal, a 
little east'of the Skapta ; the other two were a little west of the 11- 
werfisfliot. The Skapta rises in the north-east, and running first 
west, and then south, falls into the sea in a south-east direction. Part 
of its channel is confined for about twenty-four English miles, and is 
in some parts two hundred fathoms deep, in others one hundred or one 
hundred and fifty, and its breadth in some places one hundred, fifty, 
or forty fathoms. Along the whole of this part of its course the 
river is very rapid, though there are no cpnsiderable cataracts or falls. 
There are several other such confined channels, but this is the most 
considerable. The three fire-spouts, or streams of lava, which had 
broken out, united into one, after having risen a considerable height 
into the air, arriving at last at such an amazing altitude, as to be seen 
at the distance of more than two hundred English miles ; the whole 
country, double that distance, being covered with a smoke hardly to 
be described. 
On the 8th of June this fire was first visible. Vast quantities of 
sand, ashes, and other volcanic matters, were ejected, and scattered 
over the country with the wind. The atmosphere was filled with 
sand, brimstone, and ashes, in such a manner as to occasion conti- 
nual darkness, and considerable damage was done by the pumice- 
stones, which fell red-hot in great quantities. Along with these, a 
tenacious substance, like pitch, fell in vast quantities ; sometimes 
rolled up like balls, at other times like rings or garlands, which 
proved no less destructive to vegetation than the other. This shower 
having continued for three days, the fire became very visible, and at 
last arrived at the amazing height above mentioned. Sometimes it 
appeared in a continual stream, at others in flashes or flames, seen at 
the distance of thirty or forty Danish miles, (one hundred and eighty 
or tw^o hundred and forty English,) with a continual noise like thunder, 
which lasted the whole summer. The same day that the fire broke 
out, there fell a vast quantity of rain, which running in streams on 
the hot ground, tore it up in large quantities, and brought it down on 
the lower lands. This rain water was much impregnated with acid 
and other salts, so as to be highly corrosive, and to occasion a pain- 
ful sensation when it fell on the hands or face. At a greater distance 
from the fire, the air was excessively cold. Snow lay upon the ground 
three feet deep in some places, and in others there fell great quanti- 
ties of hail, which did very great damage to the cattle and every 
thing without doors. Thus the grass and every kind of vegetable in 
those places nearest the fire was destroyed, being covered with a 
thick crust of sulphureous and sooty matter. Such a quantity of 
vapour was raised by the contest of the two adverse elements, that the 
sun was darkened, and appeared like blood, the whole face of nature 
seeming to be changed; and this obscurity seems to have reached as 
