have been in a melted and flowing state
from its curled appearance, and in the face
of the precipices the different currents of
lava are very visible, of various thicknesses,
lowing remarks and sketch, from Sir Joseph Banks’
journal, will assist in rendering more intelligible my
description of Almannegiaa. ‘'The highest cliff was
ascertained by measurement to be one hundred and
seven feet six inches, the opposite one thirty-six feet
five inches, and the width of the chasm one hundred
and five feet. The face of the precipice presented
to our view, currents of lava, varying in thickness
from ten inches to as many feet, each of them
being distinguished from the other by its curled and
porous surface. Some of them form arches, having
run in h ills: all of them, probably, proceeded from
one eruption, though in different streams. The lesser
height and oblique position of the eastern mass, and,
indeed, the chasm itself, it may be conjectured, were
caused by some under stratum having given way, and
the consequent sinking of all above it, as the figure will
better explain. ”
SU J tTW C E O F K i
divided here and there by perpendicular
fissures. A heavy rain now put a stop to my
botanizing, which was, indeed, become an
useless occupation, as all the specimens that
I might have gathered would necessarily
have been destroyed, and I therefore returned
to the tents, whence Jacob and myself
took our horses to call upon the priest
of Thingevalle, for the purpose of making
some acknowledgement for the kindness he
had shewn us. Near his house I was much
struck with the venerable figure of a native,
who was employed'•hn cutting the twigs of
birch into small pieces, for burning into charcoal.
His long beard and the singularity of his
dress gave him very much the appearance
of the Icelander represented in the ancient
costume of his country, in the third plate
of the Atlas of the Voyage en Islande.
His jacket was ornamented with a coarse
sort of lacing, and his little hemispherical
cap, fitting close to his head, was precisely
the same as the one there figured. This
old Icelander served likewise as fisherman
to the priest, and had just drawn from the
lake a considerable quantity of the Thingevalle
trout, which are, at this season, to be