N O R T H - A T L A N T I C S E A - B E D .
PART I.
CHA P T E R I.
DEPARTURE FROM STORNOWAY. — THE FAROE ISLANDS. — SUSPIRIA DE PRO-
FUNDIS.—BASALTIC DRIFT.—EFFECTS OF DEEP-SEATED CURRENTS.—VOLCANIC
DETRITUS ALONG SEA-BED. — DEEP ARCTIC CURRENT. — THE WESTMANN
ISLANDS.—ASPECT OF SOUTHERN ICELAND.—CHARACTER OF THE SEA-BED
ALONG ITS SHORE.—ARRIVAL AT REKIAVIK.—ICELANDIC SCENERY.—GREAT
LAVA-STREAMS--ABRASIVE NATURE OE THE SCORIACEOUS ROCK.— OBSIDIAN
DUST.—MODIFICATION OF SIR JOHN ROSS’S SOUNDING “ CLAMS.”—EFFECTS
OF RECENT ERUPTION OF KOTLA.—EJECTION OF ICE FROM CRATER.—EXPLANATION
OF THIS PHENOMENON.—PREVALENCE OF SICKNESS DURING VOLCANIC
ERUPTIONS.
O n the 2nd of July, 1860, H.M.S. Bulldog steamed out of the little harbour
of Stornoway, and our North-Atlantic cruise fairly commenced.
July 4.—For the first time since leaving Spithead, now eleven days ago, the
sun has shone out brightly, and we are revelling in a glorious summer morning.
About an hour after midnight the “ Dimon Rocks ” were sighted, although
distant between thirty and thirty-five miles; so that we are already in the region
of no night.
Nothing could exceed the beauty of the panorama presented to our view,
as, one after another, the bold headlands of the Faroe Islands burst upon us.
Although no vestige of tree or shrub clothes the declivities, and the sombre tints
of the trap rock are relieved only here and there by brilliant patches of gi-een-
sward, or orange-tinted lichens, so varied is the outline, and intersected with
B