214 
JOURNEY TO BORGAFIORD. 
we attained this ridge, than we found ourselves on 
a sudden exposed to the force of the wind, that, 
driving over some distant snow-mountains, froze 
us with cold, and at the same time, from its 
excessive violence, made it prudent for us to sit 
down, rather than stand, while we surveyed the 
extensive tract of country that lay, like a map, 
spread out beneath our feet. To the north was 
a wilderness of mountains, many of which far 
exceeded in height the one upon which I stood, 
and most of them were thickly clad with snow. 
In the north-west, the most striking feature was 
Snoefel Joikul, which, taking its.rise near the sea, 
at the western extremity of the syssel of that 
name, towers to an elevation of not less than seven 
thousand feet. Its distance from me was be¬ 
tween sixty and seventy miles, and I now, almost 
for the first time, beheld entirely free from clouds 
this immense rock, appearing like a huge cone of 
solid snow. The extensive bay of Faxa-fiord was 
bounded on the south by the narrow neck of 
land, called GuldbringUe syssel, producing many 
mountains of wild and singular forms, spring¬ 
ing from among its numerous beds of Hraun, 
The town of Reikevig was plainly to be seen; as 
well as its harbor, spotted with the vessels lying 
at anchor, and the numerous little islands. In 
the south, the eye wandered over a wide tract of 
rocky moor, beyond which the distant Helgafel 
