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distance below the springs, as was obvious from the
smoke rising from it, as well as from the verdure
on its banks, as J have just mentioned. This small
stream empties itself into Reikiavik Bay, a little to
the eastward of the town.
It would appear from the account given by
Olafsen and Povelsen, that small eels have often
been found dead in the heated streams of Iceland,
hut not those of a large growth; and Mr. Hooker
found a number of small eels dead in these hot
springs of Reikiavik, which had probably been carried
down by the stream into the heated part. Von
I roil says, “ Of the trouts, it has been observed that
when they come up the rivers and brooks, and
approach the hot springs, they are fond of staying
in tlie lukewarm water, where they grow so fat as
to be scarcely eatable.”
On reaching Reikiavik we found ourselves not a
little fatigued by our walk “ over bog and (piug-
niire,” and resolved at once to go on hoard the
blower of Tarrow,” and enjoy a quiet and com-
foi table dinner. Our two piscators had not yet
letiuncd, but they soon made their appearance,
equally tired with ourselves, aud not a little out of
humour with the stupidity and obstinacy of the Icelandic
salmon, which had been so saucy as to reject
some of as nice flies as were ever thrown by a rod;
but they brought with them several fine trout
whicli were not to be despised.
In the evening we were favoured with a visit on
board the yacht from the governor, who sat and
chatted, and smoked a cherry-stick from the Mediterranean
with great glee, to which Mr. Smith
treated him. He told us how irksome and dreary
he felt his situation on this desolate island, on
Avhich he had spent five years of his life without
once quitting it. He repeated what he had before
told me, how dreary it was in the winter-months,
when all the Danish merchants had departed from
the island for Copenhagen; and that himself, the
good bishop, the landfogued, and two or three
others, were left to while away the long melancholy
nights almost in a state of torpidity ; that it was
some consolation, however, to have before him the
prospect of accompanying the prince back to Denmark,
when he hoped some other situation would
be provided for him,—as a second spell amidst
“ frost' and fire ” would be enough to drive him to
despair.
It would delight me to find that this excellent
man’s expectations have been realized.
The next day ivas consumed in paying visits, in
passing an hour or two with the governor, in packing
up our clothes, and settling various points connected
with our intended visit to the Geysers, for
which we were to start on the folloiving morning.
G 3
Dl lI