the Hrossatuna, compelling so much of
that river as was not consumed by the fire-
stream to work itself a new channel along that
side. The quantity, however, was trifling,
and no considerable current was to be seen,
until the Hellisa, which was likewise stopped
up, forcing itself a passage in a similar
manner, united with the other at some distance
above the farm of Skaptardal. On
the outskirts of this farm the lava was remarkably
narrow, and extended only a
little way beyond the sides of the channel;
but farther on it had spread over a great
space, having its surface every where diversified
with large bodies of water, many of
which flowed one into another with a very strong
current, and afterwards precipitated themselves
in cascades, many of which were at once
to be seen and heard. The Skaptaa broke
forth with great violence on the western
side. Even in the autumn of the year
1^83, the lava on the outside of Skaptardal
was so far cooled, that several persons
w’ho had fled from Siden ventured to pass
over it to Skaptartungen, in order to avoid
the tediously circuitous route from that
place to Medallandet, and thence again
across the Kudafliot. This passage they
happily effected in safety, and they likewise
conducted a number of sheep and cattle
over with them. It is true that this took
place late in the month of October, when
the waters were frozen; but now, on the
contrary, a large sheet of water was formed
on the lava ; all the hollows were filled up ;
and the progress of the water was impeded
to such a degree, that only the highest summits
of the hraun were visible. It will
therefore be impossible for any person to
cross over here so long as the waters are
thus confined, unless indeed in the winter, in
such times as they are a sheet of solid ice;
and how far this will ever be the case I have
great reason to doubt, there being so many
strong and violent currents: nevertheless I
will not wholly deny the possibility of its
being effected. It may here not be amiss
to state that the greatest quantity of water
collected together was in the vicinity of
Skaptardal; while smaller pools wrere to be
seen in the more southern part of the lava;
but in the eastern parts, as about Landbrot
and Medalland, the quantity was inconsiderable.
The whole of the water that fell on