VOLCANOES. 
409 
“ or steam arising out of the earth, in the north- 
“ ern and uninhabited parts of the country. 
“ Three fire-spouts broke out, of which that in 
“ the north-west was the greatest; one of these 
spouts broke out in Ulfarsdal, a little to the 
“ east of the river Skapta; the other two were a 
“ little west of the river Hwerfisfliot. These 
“ three fire-spouts, after they had risen to a con- 
“ siderable height in the air, were collected into 
“ one stream, which rose so high as to be seen at 
“ the distance of thirty-four miles and upwards. 
“ The whole country, for double that distance all 
u around, was continually covered with a thick 
“ smoke and steam not to be described. 
“ The 8th of June gave sufficient notice of the 
“ above-mentioned fire-spouts breaking out, for 
“ upon that day the fire became visible. It was 
u mixed with prodigious quantities of brimstone, 
“ sand, pumice stones, and ashes, which, being 
“ thrown up with great force, noise, and shaking 
“ of the earth, were scattered in the neighbor- 
“ hood of the spouts ; and a part of them, being 
“ blown about by the wind (which at that time 
“ was very high) all over the country, fell in the 
* The reader will observe, that the distances mentioned 
here are in the measure of Danish miles, twelve of which 
make one degree; so that each Danish mile is nearly five 
and three-quarters of our statute miles.— Pennant. 
2 E 
