back. The only apparent mode of crossing
it therefore would be in boats or on
rafts; for the union of the Skaptaa with
the Kuda river, would not only make the
body of water considerably increase in
depth, but would also cause it to flow
with a much stronger current than is the
case at present, and thus, necessarily, render
it impassable for horses. Even the expedient
just mentioned might be attended
with many difficulties; since the bed of
the river consists of loose sand, which, by
the force of the stream, is driven about,
and formed here and there into large banks,
over which it would not be found easy to
pass with laden boats ; especially when at
the same time is taken into consideration
the difficulty arising from the rapidity of
the current. This, however, is stated
merely on conjecture; and I am led into
such remarks from the idea that these accumulated
waters may force a passage at one
or other of the two places just mentioned;
there being no other obvious means by
which they can make their escape. Nevertheless,
as it is not given to man to penetrate
into, or to anticipate, the hidden operations
of the Deity, so we must hope and
expect that the best result will happen in
this, as well as in all other cases, from the
superintendance and direction of his allwise
Providence,
§ XXIV.
It has been already remarked (§ xxi)
that some branches of the Skaptaa, which
formerly flowed through Landbrotet, as
Gloppulsekur, Vordulaekur and Tungulae-
kur, have, together with the parent fountain,
been dried up. This district has not
indeed sustained any great injury from the
fire immediately; yet, nevertheless, since
the disappearance of the Skaptaa, it is exposed
to continual droughts, and may
possibly in the course of time be totally
Flying or drifted destroyed by the flying sands
sand. from the eastern country. It
is true it has always been subject to such
disasters, but it had constantly in former
cases great protection in the Skaptaa, which,
by swallowing up the sand, prevented it
from driving over to the western side, at
least, in such a quantity as to effect any
material damage. Now, on the contrary^