own inclination, the sheep repair to them in preference to those constructed by man. On our arrival at the base of the volcano, we could not sufficiently admire the regularity with which it rose by a gradual acclivity till within about eighty feet of the summit, when the heath and every vestige of vegetation ceased, and a wall of dark vitrified lava rose at once in nearly a perpendicular direction, and terminated in a rough and irregular top. From the perfect resemblance of this wall to an immense artificial fortification, it has obtained the name of Elldborg, or "The Fortress of Fire." After having rested ourselves a little at the foot of the rampart, we began to scale it; an undertaking which we found attended with no small difficulty, the lava in many places being smooth as glass, and in others broken into minute fragments, which gave way on our stepping upon them, and often compelled us to renew our toil. At length, after several respites, we ultimately reached the summit, when we were not a little alarmed to find that we were only separated from a tremendous abyss by a dome of lava, in many places not exceeding six inches in thickness, extremely loose in its contexture, and mouldering with age into the crater, which opened like an immense basin directly before us. It is not an entire circle, but somewhat oval, its longitude stretching from E. S. E. to W. N. W. The interior of the wall is in general more perpendicular than the exterior, especially on the east side, where it consists of rugged cliffs, among which a number of ravens annually build their nests. Having encompassed the summit with a measuring-line, and found its circumference to be somewhat more than 1800 feet, we descended into the crater itself, by means of a rude defile on the south-east side, where the wall consisted entirely of thin flat plates of lava, the surface of which was cracked or broken into numerous pieces, and exhibited a strong tendency towards basaltic conformation. When at the bottom, we had a most august view of the clouds, passing in rapid succession across the heavens, which were circumscribed by the lofty walls of the volcano, towering to the height of near 200 feet above us. From about half that height the sides began

to slope, and are covered with slags, except on the west side, where there is a good deal of coarse grass, and much angelica. The crater terminates in a small aperture, situated exactly in the centre, and marking the ancient source of de-' vastation and ruin. It is nearly filled with slags, and all around lie a number of large calcined stones, which, towards the end of the eruption, the fire has not been able to throw over the walls of the crater.

From the summit we had an extensive view of the vast plain which the lava has inundated, and higher up the opposite valley, several red volcanic cones presented themselves, which have also poured forth streams of melted substances, the largest of which are those situate in the vicinity of Raudamel. At a short distance from the eastern base of the mount, several small conical hills have been formed during the eruption, but they present nothing worthy of remark, their surface being entirely covered with drosses and slags. The view of Elldborg was taken from the farm of Snorrastad, at the southern extremity of the lava. The mist, in which the mountains on both sides of Hnappadal were enveloped, prevented their crowding into the prospect, which I was informed, would have been greatly improved by their romantic appearance.

Towards evening it grew very cold, the mercury having fallen below the point of congelation. At eight o'clock I took leave of the clergymen of Stadarhraun and Hytárness, while the chaplain of the latter place proceeded with me across the sands, from which the sea had again receded. Crossing alternately the projecting streams of lava, and the inlets of the sea which run up between them, we advanced at a noble rate; it being necessary to keep our horses every now and then at the gallop, in order to escape being overtaken by the tide, before we reached the land. At one time, we were nearly two miles from the shore; and, I must confess, I felt rather uneasy, while my companion was relating the number of travellers who had lost their lives, in conse quence of their having been unexpectedly surrounded by the sea. The cold wind from the mountains on the right,

rendered the ride uncomfortable; otherwise, it was as good travelling as by day, every thing, even at midnight, appearing plain around us. About three o'clock in the morning, the immense snow and ice mountain, called Snæfell Yökul, came into view; at first rather dimly seen, and communicating a dunnish hue to the surrounding atmosphere; but in a short time it began to assume a more lively aspect, and continued to brighten, till the sun was fully risen, when it shone forth in all its splendour, glistening with a dazzling lustre as it received his beams, and towering to an elevation of near five thousand feet above the level of the sea.

On reaching the end of the sands, we entered an extensive plain, marshy in front of the mountains, but dry and sandy towards the sea, and here and there adorned with a few hamlets; crossing which, we barely gained the embouchure of two rivers in time to ford them, as the tide was now flowing into them with great rapidity. At half past five o'clock, we arrived at the church and parsonage of Stadarstad. The incumbent, Sira Gudmundr Jonson, though about sixty years of age, was already up, and giving orders to his servants about their daily tasks. He received me with every mark of attention, and, after having assisted me in pitching my tent, and ordered some refreshment from the house, he left me to enjoy the repose I so much required, after a long and hard ride.

The living of Stadarstad is considered to be one of the best on the island, and can only be conferred by the special sanction of his Danish Majesty. The church, parsonage, out-houses, and adjoining grounds, all wear a superior appearance. Sira Gudmundr himself, possesses more information on general subjects, than is commonly to be met with among the Icelandic clergy, and seems to excel in his knowledge of the true principles of Scripture interpretation. He was long Secretary to the late Bishop Finnson, and Dean of Arness, and received this living, in consideration of his learning and abilities. He still retains the title of Dean, though the functions of that office in the Syssel of Snæfellsness be exercised by another clergyman, who lives on the opposite

side of the peninsula. The accounts I gave him of the Bible Society, created much interest; and we spent the most of the afternoon in conversation on this subject, and others of a religious nature. He had distributed twenty copies of the New Testament of 1807 in his parishes; but he did not believe there existed more than three whole Bibles among a population of four hundred souls.

On the 24th, with a fine clear atmosphere, and much warmer than I had found it since leaving Reykiavik, I continued my route along the south side of the mountains which divide the peninsula, accompanied by the Dean, whose conversation I found highly entertaining and instructive. The road was excellent, lying through a tract, which at some former period has evidently been covered by the sea.

At the distance of four miles to the west of Stadarstad, near the base of the high pyramidic mountain Lysuhyrna, we visited the hot spring of Lysuhol, which is situated in the centre of a circular mound of no great height, but of considerable circumference, and consisting of incrustations, formed by the calcareous depositions of the spring. There is nothing remarkable about the spring itself, the water not being hotter that 90° of Fahrenheit; but many of the petrifactions of mosses, roots, and grasses, found in the vicinity, are extremely beautiful. Among other specimens which I carried away with me, was a noble imitation of a castle, consisting of numerous towers, and divided into several irregular horizontal strata, which produce a very fine effect. These petrifactions are not confined to the present spring, but extend to a great distance between it and the mountains, where a multiplicity of decayed mounds present themselves, so that the tract must at some former period have abounded in hot springs. A little to the west of the pyramid just mentioned, a stream of lava has descended into the plain; but the quantity poured down in this direction has not been great, as it is only spread over a small surface, and does not rise to any height.

The road now lay along the beach, over a fine sand, which is terminated by the Buda lava, at the eastern extremity of