I 
VOLCANOES IN ICELAND. G53 
far as Great Britain, for, during the whole summer of 17B3, an 
o!)scurity reigned throughout all parts of this island, the atmosphere 
being clouded with a continual haze, which prevented the sun from 
appearing with his usual splendour. The dreadful scene above 
described lasted in Iceland for several days ; the whole country was 
laid waste, and the inhabitants ded every where to the most remote 
}>arts of their country, to seek for safety from the fury of this unpa- 
ralleled tempest. 
On the first breaking out of the fire, the Skapta was considerably 
augmented, on the east side of which one of the fire-spouts was 
situated ; and a similar overflow of water ivas observed in the great 
river Piorsa, which runs into the sea a little east of a town called 
Orrebekka, and into which another river called Tuna, falls, after having 
run through a large tract of barren and uncultivated land : but on 
the 11th of June, the waters of the Skapta were lessened, and in 
less than twenty-four hours totally dried up. The day following, a 
prodigious stream of liquid and red-hot lava, which the fire-spout 
had discharged, ran down the channel of the river. This burning 
torrent not only filled up the channel, but, overfiowdiig the banks, 
spread itself over the whole valley, covering all the low grounds in 
its neighbourhood ; and not having any sufficient outlet to empty 
itself by, it rose to a vast height, so that the whole adjacent country 
was overflowed, and some of the low'er hills covered. The hills are 
not continued in a long chain, but detached, and hetw^een them run 
little rivulets, so that, besides filling up the w'hole valley in which the 
Skapta ran, the fiery stream spread itself for a considerable distance 
on each side, getting vent between the hills, and laying all the neigh- 
bouring country under fire. The spouts still continuing to supply 
fresh quantities of inflamed matter, the lava took ists course up the 
channel of the river, overflowing all the grounds above, as it had done 
th ose below the place whence it issued. Tlie river was dried up 
before it, until at last it was stopped by the hill whence the Skapta 
rises. . 
Having now no proper outlet, it rose to a prodigious height, and 
overflowed the village of Buland, consuming the houses, church, and 
every thing that stood in its way, though the high ground on w'hich 
this village stood, seemed *to ensure it from any danger. The fiery 
lake still increasing, spread itself out in length and breadth for thirty- 
six English miles ; and having converted this tract of land into a 
sea of fire, it stretched tow'ards the south, and getting vent again by 
the Skapta, rushed down its channel with great impetuosity. It was 
still confined between the narrow banks of that river for about six 
English miles, but comingatlast intoa more open place, it poured forth 
in prodigious torrents, with amazing velocity and force ; spreading 
itself now towards the south, tearing up the earth, and carrying on its 
surface flaming woods and whatsoever it met with. In its course it 
laid waste another large district of land. The ground where it came 
w as cracked, and sent forth great quantities of steam long before the 
fire reached it ; and every thing near the lake was burnt up, or reduced 
to a fluid state. 
In this situation matters remained ffom the 12th of June to the 13ih 
