flat and marshy/ though many lofty mountains
were in sight. In such a place vegetation
was of course more abundant than
among the rocky and hilly tracts ; houses
métairie de Reykholt est le seul endroit dans l’interieur
du Breedefiord, dont l’auteur du Sturlunga-Saga (1 B.
cap. 13.) parle aussi avantageusement, en disant que
les semailles réussissaient toujours, et que l’on pouvait
en tout temps se procurer des farines fraîches dont leis
habitans se faisaient un régal. Cet historien ne fixe pas
précisément le lieu oîi se faisaient ces ensèmençages,
mais il parait que c’était près de la métairie où le
terrain conservait toujours beaucoup de chaleur par
rapport aux feux souterrains, puisqu’il existe ici des
sources chaudes et des veines deau de même nature,
dont les vapeurs communiquent en été aux plantes une
humidité fertilisante, et les garantissent en hiver du
froid.” (i. ii. p. 83—84.)—If such were really to be
the effect arising from the vicinity of hot-springs,
either the quantity of corn cultivated must have been
very small, or the boiling fountains extremely numerous.
But, as thé historian has not informed us that
this was the reason of the cultivation of corn having
been attended with success in his days, it maÿ not unjustly
be doubted, whether the circumstance is asci-ib-
able to such a cause; for of moisture there certainly
seems to be no want in Iceland, and the sudden vicissitudes
from heat to cold, which would necessarily arise
from a variation in the wind, must, undoubtedly, be
prejudicial tp plants, which are not capable of bearing
■the extremes of either. With regard to some of the‘
also were more frequent than I had elsewhere
seen, and the whole district wore an
aspect of comfort that seemed to bespeak a
greater degree of wealth than is to be met
with in any other part of the island. On our
left was a bay, or rather arm of the sea,
called Borgar-fiord, from which the neighboring
country takes its name. At Leera,
we stopped at an excellent house, belonging
to a Sysselman, who had married a sister of
native vegetables, indeed, a situation like this is not
inimical to their existence, but even appears to bring
certain species to a greater state of perfection, whilst
others are materially injured by it. Of such plants I
endeavored to make out a list, but I can at this time,
only call to mind, with any degree of certainty, some of
the class Cryptogamia, which I was particular in examining
on the spot,' and which I have already taken
notice of in two or three places. It may be observed,
that a higher degree of temperature in the air extends
but a very few yards at any time, in consequence of the
steam, and when this latter ascends perpendicularly,
the ground receives none of its influence; But how
pernicious must be the effect o f a westerly breeze,
wafting the heated vapor uppn the young and tender
plant, when followed, as is often the case, almost immediately,
by a wind from the east, that drives the
steam in another direction, and chills with frost what
had been the day before exposed to so much heat 1