it in dry sand, from which they take a part
as it is wanted for use, and eat it with
butter. The other kinds of roots are generally
dug up in the spring, and, as soon
as freed from the soilj are eaten either raw,
or boiled in water with a little milk. In
thé summer season a quantity of the Lichen
islandicus (called in the Icelandic language,
Fiallagros), is likewise collected from the
rocks for winter use: but immediately after
the bursting out of the fire, in the year
1783, this plant, so important to the inhabitants,
was, together with those before
mentioned, which grew in great abundance
in Sidumanna-afrett, buried under an immense
covering of volcanic ashes, and coarse
sand. Even to the present day the natives
have to regret, in all parts of the country,
that this Lichen, so valuable to the farmer,
has not yet recovered itself.
§ XXXII.
Effect on animals. In consequence of the deficiency
in the pastures, and particularly, of
the poisoned state of the herbage, a great
mortality naturally ensued among the cattle.
In the district of West Skaptefield, where the
fields were entirely covered with the infectious
sand, ashes, and sulphur, mixed into
a pasty consistency by the heavy rains;
where the showers of red-hot stones and
pumice had totally destroyed the face of
vegetation; where a stinking and suffocating
smoke, accompanied by tempests, continual
lightnings, thunder, and noises in the air,
heavy subterraneous reports and dreadful
shocks of earthquakes, obscured the atmosphere;
where a terrific stream of fire, a
melted mass of lava, had urged its impetuous
course; in short, where all the most fearful
phaenomena in nature had concentrated
themselves, as it were, in one spot, it was
common to see the animals running about
the pastures as if in a state of madness ; and I
am credibly informed, that many of them,
unable to find food, or even shelter to defend
themselves from the surrounding horrors,
in a fit of desperation, plunged into the fire.
The cows were in many instances secured
and fed in stalls, but the sheep and horses
were dispersed in such a manner, that
scarcely half of the original number could
again be collected. All the quadrupeds of
the island had thriven wonderfully, and