lx 
INTRODUCTION. 
ce them. These same dreary rocks likewise 
“ conceal the few scattered habitations of the 
“ natives, and no where does a single tree appear 
“ which might afford shelter to friendship and 
“ innocence. The prospect before us, though 
“ not pleasing, was uncommon and surprising. 
“ Whatever we saw bore the marks of devasta- 
“ tion, and our eyes, accustomed to behold the 
“ pleasing coasts of England, now saw nothing 
“ but the vestiges of the operation of a hre, 
“ heaven knows how ancient!” Of the moun¬ 
tains of Iceland some are composed of loose frag¬ 
ments of rock to their very summit, while others 
apparently retain their primaeval form and nature, 
lying in horizontal strata. Tiie height of a very 
few has been accurately ascertained; and these, 
though measuring nearly seven thousand feet of 
elevation, are by no means the loftiest in the 
island. Geitland and Blaa-fel Jokul tower over 
the rest in the southern quarter, where Hecla, 
also, is situated, more remarkable for the fre¬ 
quency of its eruptions than for its height, which 
is only about five thousand feet. The western 
quarter of the island contains, among other vast 
mountains, Snoefel Jokul, well known to all navi¬ 
gators along that coast by its great elevation and 
its vicinity to the sea; and Boula, conspicuous 
for its singularly conical form. Lange and Hofs- 
Jokul are the loftiest in the northern division of 
3 
