ing some specimens of the mineral productions
of the place, that I jumped up to my
knees in a semi-liquid mass of hot sulphur
and bolus, in which 1 should probably have
sunk to a considerable depth, had I not
instantly thrown myself with my whole
length upon the ground, so as to get my
hands on a more solid soil; by means of
which I dragged myself upon terra firma,
and relieved the anxiety which those who
saw the accident were entertaining for my
safety. An unusual quantity of cloathing
about my legs prevented my experiencing
any other ill effects from the heated mass
than a sensation which was rather uncomfortable
than painful, and was not of long
duration ; so that, after being well scraped
from a substance that attached itself like
cart-grease, we proceeded on our way. In
the midst of an extensive swamp we passed
a lake*, with steep and rocky banks, whose
waters surprised us not less by their excessive
* It is of this lake that mention is made in the Voyage
en Islande, where it is observed, tom. v. p. 58, “ Le lac
Groenavatn, près la soufrière de Kreisevig, est remarquable
d’abord par la couleur verte de son eau, qui provient
probablement de sa profondeur, et ensuite, par les
clearness than by their deep bluish-green
tint. The sky was clouded, nor was there
any thing to be discovered on the shores that
could reflect that color, for which we could
therefore account by no other means than
by supposing that a bottom of greenish
ebolus had imparted its tint to the waters.
The numerous shallow pools scattered about
the morass neither possessed the hue nor
the clearness of the lake, but were strongly
impregnated with the sulphate of iron. An
hour’s ride in this marsh, nearly mid-leg
deep in water and among abundance of
Betula nana, brought us to the residence
of the inhabitants of Kreisevig, by whom
we were ushered into a low turf building,
which, though small, and much incommoded
with dirty clothes, stockings, saddles, &c.,
afforded room for our little party to take
some refreshment, and proved a most welcome
shelter from the unceasing inclemency
relations que les riverains font, des créatures singulières
qui doivent s’y trouver, et qui se montrent quelquefois
un instant au-dessus de l’eau. Une personne nous assura
avoir vu un petit monstre de conformation approchant
d’un marsouin, mais qui disparut presqu’ aussitôt qu’il
parut.”
VOL. I . R