RETURN FROM THE GEYSERS. J5J 
as visible to me at a distance. It is, indeed, in 
its present state, but little worthy of notice to any 
one, who had witnessed the finer eruptions of the 
Geysers: its water rises from a rugged aperture 
not more than two feet in diameter, and is thrown 
up to the height of six or seven feet in frequently 
repeated jets; but the spray is cast to a consider¬ 
able distance, and the eruptions are attended 
with a loud and rumbling noise, owing to the 
vast quantity of air which rises at the same time 
with the water. Some stepping stones in the 
river lead to a more quiet, but still hot, part of 
the channel, formed by this spring, and afford a 
convenient station for the people of the adjacent 
house, when they cook their provisions or wash 
their clothes. The inhabitants of this solitary 
dwelling, which is at a distance • of about thirty 
yards from the spring, assured me, that in the 
winter, in very clear and frosty weather, the 
height of the spout is sometimes so great, that, if 
the wind lies in a favorable direction for the pur¬ 
pose, the heated water and steam are driven into 
their house, to such a degree as to compel them 
to seek a temporary residence elsewhere. Incon¬ 
siderable, however, as I found this spring of 
Reykum, it, nevertheless, with its accompani¬ 
ments, forms an object both beautiful and in¬ 
teresting, amid the dreariness of the surrounding 
scenery. The grass, growing near its margin. 
