ARTES
1837
SCIENTIA
VERITAS
LIBRARY
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
PLURIOUS VALIN
TCEBOR
SI QUÆRIS PENINSULAM AMUNAM
CIRCUMSTICI
THIS BOOK
FORMS PART OF THE
ORIGINAL LIBRARY
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
BOUGHT IN EUROPE
1838 TO 1839
BY
ASA GRAY
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A PARTICULAR CHART
of the
COAST OF ICELAN
from Kiarlarnæs to Mölshöfde
comprehending
Ꭰ
Kotle Fiord Holmens Havn and Skæria Fiord
lying on
FAXE BAY
Surveyed by H.E.Minor 1776
and Published from the Royal Chart Archive in
Copenhagen
;
6
1
JOURNAL
OF
A TOUR IN ICELAND,
IN
THE SUMMER
OF
1809.
BY
WILLIAM JACKSON HOOKER, F.R.S. AND L.S.,
AND
FELLOW OF THE WERNERIAN SOCIETY OF
EDINBURGH.
SECOND EDITION, WITH ADDITIONS.
VOL. II.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN,
PATERNOSTER-ROW;
AND JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE-STREET;
By J. Keymer, Yarmouth.
1813.
APPENDIX. A.
DETAIL
OF THE
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION
IN 1809.
VOL. II.
B
RECOLLECTIONS
OF
ICELAND.
APPENDIX. A.
TRIFLING and insignificant as every thing
connected with the politics of so small and
so miserable a country as Iceland must ne-
cessarily appear, when contrasted with the
events that are agitating the great powers
of Europe, nevertheless, as the government
of this island underwent a total change
during the short time of my residence in it,
I feel, not only that my journal would be
incomplete were I to pass over such things
in silence, but also that it may reasonably be
required of me to give an account of transac-
tions, which fell under my own observation,
APPENDIX. A.
and of which, as a mere by-stander, I may
be expected to speak with more impartiality
than those who were actively engaged in
them. I shall therefore endeavor to do it
as plainly and succinctly as possible, trust-
ing that, unimportant as are the events to
be detailed in my narrative, they may not on
that account be wholly devoid of interest,
but may find some shelter under the old
adage, that "inest sua gratia parvis." From
one error, at least, that is but too common
to writers of all descriptions, whatever be
their subject, I flatter myself I shall be al-
lowed to have steered clear, that of magnify-
ing occurrences, so as to exemplify the fable
of the mountain in labor; for the very re-
verse is my case, and I ought, perhaps, rather
to dread the having fallen into the opposite.
extreme; as my inclinations, as well as my
feelings, would have led me to have confined
myself principally to the leading objects of
my voyage, the natural history of the island and
the manners and customs of the inhabitants,
could I but have persuaded myself that I
could have done so with propriety. Having,
as just observed, taken no part whatever in
politics, and having frequently been engaged
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
5
in excursions at a distance from Reikevig,
I am of course ignorant of much that passed
there, and it must be remembered that the
portion of my narrative that rests upon my
own authority is far from great; but the re-
mainder I have been enabled to fill up in a
manner at least equally authentic, having
been furnished with various documents
through the kindness of Captain Jones, as
well as with a complete statement* of the
whole by Count Tramp, drawn up with
the view of being laid before the British
government, and with a similar, but more
* This statement was originally accompanied by a
considerable number of letters, protests, &c., to which
it refers in almost every page, but which I have never
seen, and I may, probably, from this cause, have been
led to do less justice to the count than would have been
the case, had I had an opportunity of consulting them.
It is necessary at the same time to remark, that, of the
events which took place after the imprisonment of the
count, he only speaks from these documents, or from
information which he received verbally from the in-
habitants of Reikerig, a few days previous to his leaving
Iceland, and this may account for some passages which
appear to me to be exaggerated, and which, had the
circumstances been related from the count's Own
knowledge, would not have crept into his narrative.
6
APPENDIX. A.
و
extended, statement by Mr. Jorgensen
detailing at full length, not only the things
that occurred, but the causes that preceded
and gave birth to them. Thus, then, pro-
* This gentleman I have already had occasion to
mentioned more than once in my journal; but, as he
has, in what follows, to appear as the principal actor,
it is right to give some farther account of him; that
the transaction may be shewn in its proper light, and
that it may not be thought that Mr. Phelps, a subject
of Great Britain, has, by taking a part in a matter
unauthorised by his country, transgressed her laws.-
Mr. Jorgensen, though born of respectable parents at
Copenhagen, at an early age entered into the British
service as an apprentice on board a collier; after which,
he employed himself in such other vessels of various
descriptions as he thought most likely to promote the
object he had in view, that of attaining the highest
perfection in seamanship. He then entered our navy,
in which, after much hard service and many long and
difficult voyages, he made himself complete master of
navigation, as well as of the naval laws of Great Britain;
and imbibed, according to his own words, together with
his knowledge of nautical affairs, the maxims, the prin-
ciples, and the prejudices of Englishmen. At the age
of twenty-five, having been absent from his native coun-
try ten or twelve years, the whole of which he had spent
in the British service, he returned to Copenhagen in the
year 1806. In that city he was at so little pains to con-
ceal his political sentiments respecting England, that he
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
7
vided, I proceed without farther preface to
the sketch of a revolution, which so far dif-
fers from all others of our times, that, in
accomplishing it, only twelve men were em-
created himself a number of enemies by declaring his
partiality towards a country, under whose flag he had
so lately and so long served, and by reprobating in the
most open manner the tyranny and usurpation of the
French; a nation, whose opinions and principles he
found were approved of by the greater part of his
countrymen. Shortly after the late expedition, sent by
Great Britain against Copenhagen, the Crown Prince
entered into an alliance, offensive and defensive, with
France; which was followed by a decree, calling upon
persons of all ranks and descriptions, from the age of
eighteen to fifty, to serve, in some capacity or other, in
support of their country; in consequence of which, Mr.
Jorgensen took the command of the Admiral Juul, a
privateer of twenty-eight guns, in which, proceeding
towards Flamborough Head, he fell in with two British
ships of war, the Sappho and the Clio. The former he
immediately engaged; but, after an action of forty-one
minutes, was obliged to strike his colors, and was landed
as a prisoner at Yarmouth; whence he was taken to
London, where he signed his parole, and remained, till
the circumstances, of which the following narrative is
intended to convey an account, induced him twice to
leave the kingdom, without permission from the British
government, and consequently to break his parole ;
F
8
APPENDIX. A.
ployed, not a life was lost, not a drop of
blood was shed, not a gun fired, nor a sabre
unsheathed.
The island of Iceland, from its climate
and situation, and from the exceeding bar-
renness of its soil, is necessarily compelled
at all times to depend for a considerable
part of its supplies of provisions upon foreign
countries; so that, even in those seasons
which may be accounted the most favorable,
it does not produce sufficient for the main-
tenance of its scanty population; and, as
often as an unusually severe winter proves
destructive to the cattle of its inhabitants,
or an unproductive fishery prevents them
from laying up their winter stores of dried
cod and salmon, nothing but the most abun-
dant imports can avert an actual famine.
Such imports in time of peace the parent
state of Denmark has found no difficulty in
though he did so, not only without any intention of
serving against Great Britain, but, as was shewed by
the event in the first instance, and in the second by the
proclamation issued in Iceland, with the full determina-
tion of returning to England.
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
9
furnishing from her numerous ports in Nor-
way, as well as from Copenhagen, but since
the breaking out of the present unfortunate
war between this country and Great Britain,
the naval superiority of the latter has ren-
dered all communication between the former
and her colonies most precarious, and the
wretched Icelanders have experienced the
greatest difficulty in procuring even the
poor
supplies necessary for their bare subsistence.
Sensible of the miserable and defenceless
state of this island, it has therefore been the
generous wish of the British government
that it should be suffered to remain in a
state of virtual neutrality, and they have of
late gone much farther, and even granted
licences to protect vessels belonging to the
Danes employed in the conveyance of pro-
visions and other articles of necessity, and to
permit English ships to carry similar cargoes
thither. "An humane interest," to use the
words of Count Tramp, "has been shewn by
the English in the fate of the inhabitants,
for which they will ever with gratitude
remember the exalted philanthropist, Sir
Joseph Banks, who on this occasion under-
took to advocate their cause."
10
APPENDIX. A.
As yet, however, no commercial com-
munication had taken place between the
English and Icelanders, and it unfortunately
happened that the first visit they were
destined to receive from our countrymen was
of a nature but ill calculated to impress them
with favorable sentiments towards us; for,
benevolent as were the intentions of our
government, no public notification had been
made of them, and they were consequently
of no avail in preventing the depredations of
our privateers; one of which, in 1808, under
the command of Captain Gilpin, came to the
island, and landed an armed force, which
took away from the public chest upwards of
thirty thousand rix-dollars that were appro-
priated to the maintenance of the schools
and the poor.
Far different from this was the object of
Mr. Phelps, an eminent and honorable mer-
chant in London, who, having accidentally
learned from Mr. Jorgensen that a large
quantity of Icelandic produce, and par-
ticularly of tallow, was lying ready for ex-
portation in the ports of that island, con-
ceived the project of opening a direct com-
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
11
•
munication, likely to prove equally beneficial
to both parties; and, without delay, freighted
a vessel called the Clarence, at Liverpool,
for the purpose, in doing which, to avoid all
possible cause for umbrage, he, according to
Mr. Jorgensen, applied to government for
permission to export no other articles but
such as were absolutely necessary for the
subsistence of the inhabitants, as barley-
meal, potatoes, and salt, with a very small
proportion of rum, tobacco, sugar, and coffee,
not exceeding ten tons; taking especial care
not to send out any British manufactured
goods, and thereby give room for a charge
that he merely wished to make the island
a depository for prohibited articles, which
might thence be afterwards smuggled into
the continent. This ship was furnished with
a letter of marque, but still, in order to
prove the honorable intentions of the mer-
chant, it was expressly stipulated with the
owner, that the captain, Mr. Jackson, should
not seize or capture any vessel, either in the
ports of Iceland or in sight of its coasts; and
in case that he should in any way violate
the agreement, the owner should be liable
to the forfeiture of £8,000. In this ship
2
12
APPENDIX. A.
Mr. Jorgensen himself, whose knowledge of
the Danish language and general acquaint-
ance with affairs of this nature made him
eminently serviceable, embarked, together
with Mr. Savigniac, an Englishman em-
ployed as supercargo; and, setting out in
the latter end of December, they arrived at
Iceland in the beginning of the following
month, January, 1809; having performed
the voyage at a time of the year considered
so dangerous for such an attempt, that
Mr. Phelps was unable to find any under-
writers that would consent to insure the
whole of the cargo. The idea having oc-
curred to them that the government of the
island would find less difficulty in permit-
ting a free and open trade to be established
between the inhabitants and the supercargo,
could an appearance be made of the property
belonging to neutrals, it was judged ex-
pedient to hoist American colors, and to
exhibit a set of papers of the same nation;
but such an attempt availed nothing, for
permission was still peremptorily refused for
any part of the cargo to be landed, although
it was acknowledged that the country was in
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION
13
extreme want of various articles that were on
board. Such being the case, the British
colors were displayed, and the licence pro-
duced, but to no purpose *; and Mr. Savig-
niac, unwilling to proceed to extremities,
was upon the point of returning to England,
when the natives expressed so strongly their
anxiety for the landing of the goods, that,
in order to bring the government to a sense
of its duty and interest, he thought proper
to release Captain Jackson from the clause
in the charter-party which prevented him
from making prizes in Iceland, and to com-
mence hostilities, by taking possession of a
Danish brig, which had just arrived from
Norway with provisions. The officers of
* Upon the subject of permitting a commercial
intercourse, Count Tramp remarks, that, "the exist-
ing laws of the country strongly prohibiting all trade.
with foreign nations, it was the duty of the officers in
whose hands he had, at that time, during his absence
to Copenhagen, left the management of public affairs,
to refuse this application."-It may be so; but, surely,
a nation which had conducted itself with so much
lenity and forbearance as ours had done towards this
island, might have expected to have received a better
return for its kind offices.
14
APPENDIX. A.
the government now seeing their real situ-
ation, and fearing lest farther acts of a
similar nature should be committed, found
themselves under the necessity of concluding
a convention, permitting a mercantile con-
nection to be opened between the inhabitants
of Reikevig and Mr. Savigniac, a measure
that in reality was but of little importance,
as the natives were still intimidated by the
threats of those in power, and dared not
purchase of the English; so that every thing
went on, as before, through the hands of
the Danish factors, who bought only just
enough for their own immediate use. How
hard this was, will immediately be seen, when
it is known that of all the various articles
on board the Clarence two only were on any
terms to be procured in Iceland, salt and grain,
the latter of which was entirely monopo-
lized by government, and not to be purchased
at a lower rate than twenty-two dollars per
barrel, a price that virtually amounted to a
prohibition, as it rendered it quite out of
the reach of many even of the higher classes
of the inhabitants. Mr. Savigniac, on the
contrary, offered his at considerably less
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
15
than half this price, but still no purchasers *
were to be found, nor could he procure even
tallow or any other kind of Icelandic pro-
duce in exchange for it; so, entirely foiled
in his expectations, he was under the neces-
sity of determining to remain himself in
the country, and take care of his valuable
*It is but fair to remark, that the time of year, in
some measure, prevented so ready a sale of the cargo
as Mr. Savigniac seems to have expected, though
Count Tramp attributes the failure to a different
cause, and asserts that the ship was loaded with
luxuries instead of necessaries.-To use his words,
"this little town (Reikevig) was now overstocked
with luxuries of all descriptions, that could not but find
a slow and tardy sale, at a season of the year when the
commerce could only be carried on with the inhabitants
of the town, and its immediate vicinity; for it is only
in the month of June that a degree of communication,
intercourse, and barter between the more distant towns
and parts of the country begins to take place in Iceland.
Of real necessaries, on the contrary, such as the coun-
try wanted, and for which there was at that time in par-
ticular a demand, only a very inconsiderable quantity
was imported, so that, partly owing to these causes,
and partly to extravagant sacrifices and expences, and
to rash and imprudent speculations and general mis-
managements, it was not long before it was reported that
this new establishment turned out a losing concern.
Count Tramp's Narrative.
16
APPENDIX. A.
}
charge, hoping for more favorable times, while
Mr. Jorgensen returned to England with
the Clarence in ballast, having previously
restored the Danish brig to her owners.
The governor, Count Tramp, who had
been absent at Copenhagen during these
transactions, was apprised of them on his
return to Iceland on the 6th of June, 1809,
and he observes, upon the subject, in his
statement, that, "mortified as he felt at a
convention of this kind, concluded with an
armament unauthorised to enforce it; yet,
nevertheless, acknowledging the sacredness
of contracts, he had no idea of curtailing in
any respect the rights thereby granted to
British subjects, though Mr. Savigniac him-
self, by acting contrary to the convention,
had long since given him sufficient cause to
have dissolved it."-In the early part of the
same month, Captain Nott, of his majesty's
sloop of war the Rover, arrived in the coun-
try, and an opportunity was thus offered
to Count Tramp, as well to prove the sin-
cerity of his intentions, as to render the
most essential service possible to Iceland, by
fixing all matters in dispute upon a per-
?
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
17
manent basis with an officer whom he looked
upon as no less qualified to enter into an
agreement than able to enforce the observ-
ance of it *.
On the 16th of June a convention was
accordingly concluded between Captain Nott
and Count Tramp, by which it was stipu-
lated that British subjects should have a free
trade on the island during the war, but that
they should be subject at the same time to
Danish laws. The governor proceeds in his
* The feelings of the governor I cannot express better
than in his own words, "I must beg leave to remark
that, from the existing warlike relations, I did not
view with indifference the arrival of an armed force
belonging to his British Majesty, with the objects of
which in these parts I was unacquainted, and the
peaceable proceedings of which no convention secured.
My duty, therefore, imposed upon me to take every
possible means of precaution; but, having been assured
that Captain Nott was far from intending any hostility
against the country, I could not but wish, under the
existing circumstances, that a compact entered into
with a man acting under public authority should
establish a firm and understood relation between the
inhabitants of Iceland and those British subjects who
were settled there already, or who might come hereafter
for the purposes of trade."
VOL. II.
¡
C
18
APPENDIX. A.
narrative to assure us, that he immediately
gave orders that a number of copies of this
convention should be printed, and circulated
throughout all parts of the island, and more-
over that, as this was an operation that re-
quired some time, the country affording but
one press, which was situated many miles
distant from Reikevig, he, still farther to
assist its publicity, and to cause it to be
known in the vicinity of the residences of
the following officers, issued a notification
to both the Amptmen in the country, Mr.
Thoransen and Mr. Stephensen *, and also
gave orders to the Landfogued, Mr. Frydens-
* I should fear that the tardiness of these officers in
executing the count's orders must be accounted one of
the principal causes of the events he afterwards com-
plained of; for, among other papers with which I
have been furnished by Captain Jones, is one con-
taining a narrative of the revolution, by the Etatsroed
Stephensen, in his own hand writing, in which, after
mentioning the circumstance of the imprisonment of
the count, he speaks of the convention with Captain
Nott. From this, it does not appear, although he
acknowledges the receipt of the copies of the con-
vention, both by him and his brother, that they took
any pains to make the contents known in their
neighborhood. His words are,
His words are, on the same day
6 C
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
19
berg, and to Mr. Koefoed, a Sysselman, to
make the contents public in their neighbor-
hood. The convention was likewise shewn
to Mr. Savigniac for his perusal.
(Sunday, the 24th of June) the said convention with
Captain Nott, left the press, to which Count Tramp,
about six days ago, delivered it, for the purpose of
having it printed; and at the same time communicated
a copy of the convention to myself and the bailiff
Stephen Stephensen, but the count was already con-
fined, before a printed copy could be received by him."
It will be remembered, that the convention was con-
cluded on the 16th. The press is indeed a long day's
journey distant from Reikevig by land, but it is possible
to go by water to within a few miles of the spot, and
half a day is sufficient time for the voyage.-Perhaps
the disposition of the Etatsroed towards the English
cannot be better explained than by giving the follow-
ing translation of an extract from that gentleman's
pamphlet, containing a history of the Sol of the Ice-
landers (Fucus palmatus), printed at Copenhagen, 1908.
I have noticed the work in one or two places in my
journal, without any reference to the political matters
with which it is interspersed.
"To the good Inhabitants of Iceland."
"DEAR COUNTRYMEN!
“Odin's Goddesses, Bellonæ, afflict our northern
countries. They have at last shot their murderous and
fiery arrows into our king's residence, in a manner
20
APPENDIX. A.
I must here beg leave to observe that,
though I would be far from questioning the
good intentions and the sincerity of the
count, or the correctness of his statements,
still, admitting them to be strictly true,
some strange neglect had certainly taken
place; for the convention had not been
printed at the period of our arrival, though
five days had elapsed from its signature, the
half of which would have been sufficient for
the purpose, even supposing it to have been
sent by land; and, what is of most conse-
quence, but is omitted in his narrative, a
proclamation had been dispersed over the
equally treacherous and shameful. They have, under
the mask of hypocrisy, stolen into his country, to rob
him of his fleet, and to plunder his kingdom, which was
of all in Europe the most happy, owing to nearly an
hundred years' peace. They have captured a number
of Danish, Norwegian, and Icelandic merchant-ships.
With violence and treachery have they provoked the well-
merited hatred of our nation, and roused us to arms, in
defence of our king, our country, and our liberty. They
have surrounded our coasts with ships of war, to
destroy our commerce, and to prevent all importation
of the most common necessaries into our countries,
thereby to the utmost of their power causing misery
and the loss of lives."
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
21
country, and was found by us still posted up
in the town, forbidding any native to trade
with the English, under pain of death. This
proclamation had been printed during the
absence of the count, but kept in a chest till
his arrival, and was certainly issued by his
special direction.
While things were in this state in Iceland,
Mr. Phelps had been planning a second ex-
pedition, prepared with more care than the
former, and upon a more extensive scale,
with the hope of accomplishing his favorite
project, and of repairing the losses he had
sustained. He therefore, early in the sum-
mer, got ready in London the Margaret and
Anne, a fine ship carrying ten guns, pro-
vided with a letter of marque, and loaded
with a cargo of such articles as had been
pointed out by Mr. Savigniac as most likely
to be saleable, and he, at the same time, dis-
patched the Flora, a brig, with grain for the
use of the island. So much had he this ob-
ject at heart, that he determined himself to
sail in the former of these vessels, to avoid
all mistakes, and see that nothing might
interrupt the harmony he hoped to find
22
APPENDIX. A.
established; and he took with him Mr.
Jorgensen, whose acquaintance with the
transactions that had taken place during
the winter, added to his knowledge of the
Icelandic merchants and of the Danish lan-
guage, with which they are all acquainted,
rendered him of the highest importance to
the success of the undertaking.
On the 21st of June, only two or three
days after the departure of the Rover, the
Margaret and Anne came to an anchor in
Reikevig harbor, and Mr. Savigniac imme-
diately proceeded on board, where he in-
formed Mr. Phelps of the obstructions* to
the trading with the British, of the arrival
* I feel myself bound to mention that Count Tramp,
in his narrative, expressly denies any obstructions of
this nature, referring to a document, which I have
never seen, signed by five of the established merchants
of Reikevig, dated the 1st of September, 1809, "by
which," he says, "it is evidently proved that the accu-
sations against the civil officers and citizens of the
country are unfounded, and that they were invented
and set afloat by the managers of the concern, only with
a view of providing a cloak for themselves in the ac-
count they were going to render to their principals for
the losses occasioned by their own misconduct."
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
23
of Count Tramp, and of the convention
between Captain Nott and the latter.
Mr. Phelps, on hearing that such a con-
vention had been entered into, remained se-
veral days without landing any part of his
cargo, in the expectation that it would be
delivered to him in an official manner, or
would, at least, be posted up in different
parts of Reikevig. No such thing, how-
ever, happened, but, on the contrary, the
proclamation before alluded to was still
regarded as continuing in force, nor was
it ever, at any subsequent time, publicly
repealed; so that in the month of June, a
season of the year when by far the greater
number of the natives make a journey to
Reikevig for the sake of barter, scarcely an
individual of this description was seen; all
naturally dreading to expose themselves to
the severe punishment threatened by such
a proclamation, and knowing that, except
from the English, nothing of what they
wanted was to be procured.
Such then being the situation of Mr.
Phelps' affairs, and the convention remain-
ing unpublished as late as the 25th of the
24
APPENDIX. A.
month, this gentleman felt that longer delay
would be materially prejudicial to his in-
terests, and that he must consequently be
under the necessity of having recourse to
measures, no more consonant to his inclina-
tion than to his feelings. He therefore
gave orders to Captain Liston, the master
of the Margaret and Anne, by virtue of
the power granted him by his letter of
marque, to seize the person of the governor,
and detain him as his prisoner; directing
him, also, immediately before he took such
a step, to make a prize of the Orion, a
brig belonging to Count Tramp, provided
with a licence from the British government,
which she had, according to Mr. Jorgensen,
forfeited, by first carrying her cargo to Nor-
way, and there disposing of it, and taking
in another* for Iceland. Mr. Liston, in
pursuance of these directions, landed twelve
1
* A part of this cargo, according to Count Tramp,
consisting of goods to the value of six thousand rix-
dollars of Danish currency, was intended to have been
distributed gratis among the distressed Icelanders, a
circumstance of which I am persuaded Mr. Phelps and
Mr. Jorgensen were ignorant, or they would not have
allowed so benevolent a design to have been frus-
trated.
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
25
of his crew with arms, and, stationing them
at the door of the governor's house, entered,
together with Mr. Phelps, the room in
which he was sitting with Mr. Koefoed, and
made him his prisoner, without any resist-
ance on his part: then locking the door
of his office, to which he allowed the
count to affix his own seal *, he conducted
him under an armed escort on board the
Margaret and Anne. The whole of this was
done without any attempt at concealment
in the most public time of the most public
day of the week, a Sunday afternoon, after
divine service, so that it affords the strongest
evidence in favor of Mr. Jorgensen's asser-
tion, that the transaction itself could not be
displeasing to the natives, many of whom
were loitering about the plain before the
house, with their long poles in their hands
spiked with iron, which they use for walking
upon the snow, and which they might have
now employed as offensive weapons; instead
of which they looked on with the most
perfect indifference, though they were in such
* This was shortly afterwards broken open, and all
the papers subjected to examination.
26
APPENDIX. A.
numbers that one half of them could with
ease have overpowered the invalids who were
stationed to guard the door; for it is suf
ficiently known, that in time of war the
crews of merchant-ships consist of such men
only as are unfit for the service of his
Majesty. Mr. Phelps, having taken this
step, was aware that, as a British subject, he
had it not in his power to establish or even
to maintain in the island any form of govern-
ment without the consent of his own; but
he was at the same time fully sensible of
the necessity of some regular authority being
constituted, till more decisive measures could
be taken for the welfare of the country; and
it was therefore determined that Mr. Jor-
gensen, not being a subject of the crown of
Great Britain, or responsible to it for his
actions, should assume for the present the
chief command. Conformably to such a
determination, this gentleman immediately
commenced the exercise of his power by
issuing a proclamation*, which in the first
*The extracts from this as well as the two following
proclamations published by Mr. Jorgensen I have
thought it best to insert almost verbatim from Count
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
27
article declares, that all Danish authority is
dissolved in Iceland: in the fourth that arms
and ammunition of all kinds are to be given
up; in the sixth that the keys of private
warehouses and shops, money, accounts and
papers, belonging to, or concerning, the
interests of the king of Denmark or Danish
merchants, shall, likewise, be delivered*; in
the second third and fifth articles, it orders
Tramp's statement of them, with many of his com-
ments, that I might be the less liable to be accused of
partiality; but I have printed literal translations of the
originals in the Appendix B. (See Nos. 1, 2, and 5.)
Nos. 3 and 4 are copies of other proclamations of less.
importance, and not noticed by Count Tramp.
* This was preparatory to the confiscation of all
Danish property in the island; upon which subject I
must beg leave to make use of Mr. Jorgensen's own
words. This," he observes, was absolutely neces-
sary, for, if such property had been permitted to have
been taken away, the country would have been extreme-
ly impoverished, since all goods, property, and mer-
chandize on the island belonged to the Danes, as well
all that lay in the store-houses, as even what the poor
peasant had in the field; for the lower classes were
generally deeply in debt to the Danish factors. It was
likewise just and proper to detain all such property,
whether public or private; for Iceland had certain funds-
28
APPENDIX. A.
all Danes to remain within their own houses,
and prohibits every one from holding com-
munication with them: the ninth article
threatens those who act contrary to this
decree with being brought before a military
court and shot within two hours; while by
the eighth tenth and eleventh articles, are
promised to all native Icelanders undis-
turbed tranquillity and a felicity hitherto
unknown *.
in Copenhagen, for which it might be considered a sort
of equivalent. Some years ago, a great eruption took
place from Mount Hecla, which destroyed a number of
people and ruined many. In Denmark and other
countries a large sum of money was collected by sub-
scription for the relief of the suffering inhabitants on
the island, and deposited in Copenhagen. The sums
procured in such a manner have positively never been
paid to the Icelanders, but detained by the Danish go-
vernment. Also, to indemnify Danish merchants for
their losses by property confiscated, the court at Copen-
hagen has nothing to do, but to order them to be paid
from the Icelandic funds; and so could the merchants
not be sufferers, and there would still remain a surplus,
which would more than indemnify government for
what public property was seized. '
* Perhaps with a view of obtaining his share in the
general felicity held forth by this proclamation, a poor
1
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION
29
On the evening of the same day, appeared
also a second proclamation, proceeding much
farther than the other, and decreeing in its
first article, that Iceland should be inde-
pendent of Denmark; and in the fifth, that
a republican constitution should be intro-
duced, similar to that which existed before
the country was united to Norway in the
thirteenth century, but, till this could be
peasant presented a brief to his Excellency, Governor
Jorgensen, who favored me with the following transla-
tion :
"A Petition from Biarne Thorlevsen,
SHEWETH,
The
"That in the year 1805, my wife Thorunn Gunn-
laugdatter was sentenced to two years labor in the Ice-
landic work-house, only for the simple thing of stealing
a sheep, which besides was nothing at all to me.
separation which took place accordingly, occasioned
that I was compelled to take a young girl as my house-
keeper, who otherwise much recommended herself by
her ability and fidelity. The consequence of these cir-
cumstances was that the girl produced two little girls,
after each other, whose father I am. We were then
separated by order of the magistrates, and in this man-
ner must the education of two innocent, but at the same
time right handsome little girls, remain neglected, un-
less she as mother, in conjunction with me as father,
30
APPENDIX. A.
settled by the representatives of the people,
allowing by the sixth article, to the existing
authorities the option of remaining in their
respective situations. In the tenth article
it is declared that the country shall be put
in a state of defence: the twelfth annuls
all debts due to Danish merchants in the
is not hindered from following the irresistible dictates
of nature in the care and education of the children.
But this cannot be done if we are not allowed to marry,
and I humbly beg Mr. Bishop Videlin's declaration; so
much the more so, as I am convinced of the justice of
my cause.
"I also commit my life and worldly happiness to
your Excellency's gracious consideration.
"With the confidence and attachment of a subject,
"BIARNE THORLEVSEN.
Skridnafell within Barderstrand Syssel,
1st August, 1809.
To his Excellency, Mr. Jorgen Jorgensen, Protector of the
whole Island of Iceland, and Chief Commander by
Sea and Land.
As my
readers may wish to learn the fate of Mr. Biarne
Thorlevsen and his faithful girl, I will add that upon
farther inquiry on the part of the bishop into the affair,
he found that the wife was anxious for a separation from
her husband, when there remained no obstacle to his
wishes of entering a second time into the marriage state.
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
31
country or abroad, and prohibits clandestine
payment of them, under pain of the indi-
vidual being compelled again to pay the
same amount to the new governor: the
thirteenth provides against the prices of pro-
visions being exorbitant: the fourteenth
takes off the half of all taxes to be levied
upon the inhabitants till the 1st of July,
1810: by the eighteenth, all communication
with Danish ships is forbidden: the second
third and fourth guarantee personal safety
and property, and payments of pensions,
&c.; while the nineteenth extends the same
protection to Danes who do not intermeddle
in the political affairs of the island.
It may be observed, that the number of
representatives that were to have been sent
were three from the southern ampt, one from
the eastern ampt, two from the northern, and
two from the western ampt.
The government-house was from this time
occupied by Mr. Jorgensen, and all public
business was
as usual transacted in the
office belonging to it. The salaries of the
32
APPENDIX. Á.
various officers under government were also
paid; and they so far appeared satisfied *
with the present arrangements that none of
* This satisfaction, to judge from the remarks of
Count Tramp and the Etatsroed, existed only in ap-
pearance, since the former says, "Thus, a new order
of things, presenting to view all the miseries that can
spring from boundless despotism, was forced upon an
innocent people, loyal and faithful to their king. The
Danes that had been in public employments, who were
now deprived of their places, and laboring under a
suspicion otherwise honorable to themselves, of detest-
ing the introduced changes, and meditating schemes
for the fall of the usurper, and who were on that ac-
count exposed to the same persecutions and ill treat-
ment of which so many instances had been seen,
resolved to depart from a country where, with their
best wishes, for want of means and assistance they
found no possibility of being useful. Many natives
in public functions followed their example in resigning,
whose offices were filled with the most unqualified per-
sons, by notorious drunkards and flatterers, who were
indebted only to their officiousness as spies and calum-
niators for the favor and protection of the new ruler."
-The latter, after mentioning some of the most severe
articles in the proclamation, proceeds to affirm that
"they did expand a general horror all over the country;
and that only the rascality of a few people did approve
them, for the gain of money and for the sake of getting
some share in the disturbed government or rather in the
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
33
the principal ones resigned their situations,
though some few in private expressed their
dissatisfaction at the republican form of
government about to be established; it seem-
ing to them absurd that an island, to which
nature had denied all internal resources,
should be proclaimed in a state of inde-
pendence which it necessarily wanted the
means of supporting. The bishop, however,
and many of the clergy, at a yearly meet-
ing of the synod, signed a document, in
which they expressed their satisfaction at
high anarchy here. Very indebted officers, being misled
by fair promises of more salaries, did submit or approve
the altered form, to their lasting shame for having
dispensed with that homage and duty they owed to
their native soil. Many good officers resigned their
situations, the most did not give in the least declara-
tion. We (Magnus and Stephen Stephensen), the Etats-
roed and Amptman of the western part of the island,
declared our wish to administer our offices only for the
present year and according to the laws of our country."
* These persons, however, it must be confessed, were
equally averse to their former government.
+ Count Tramp asserts that this meeting was at-
tended only by a few of the clergymen of the neighbor-
hood, "who were surprised into a declaration in favor of
VOL. II.
D
34
APPENDIX, A.
the present situation of affairs, and declared
their willingness to support it, exhorting all
classes of people to do the same.
Many, likewise, of the natives, came for-
ward, conformably to the tenth article of the
last proclamation, with an offer of their
services, for the purpose of forming a body
Jorgensen, while all the rest in the island remained
unshaken in their allegiance;" and he adds in other
parts of his narrative that, " though the proclamation
of the 26th of June had struck a dread into the minds
of people that could not easily be removed, and though
means were taken to keep it up, partly by daily scenes
of violence and partly by an armed force from the crew
of the Margaret and Anne perpetually patrolling the
streets, still the new state was by most people considered
a bubble, and the public officers in particular, who
ought to have been the first to have paid their homage,
did not do it, but some laid down their offices, and
others declared they would only hold them for the
good of the country by virtue of the same authority
under which they had hitherto acted!"-He likewise
stigmatizes the motives as well as the conduct of those
who attached themselves to Mr. Jorgensen, calling them
"a contemptible band of idle persons and men of
ruined fortunes, attracted by his being beyond measure
lavish of the sums of money amassed by his plunder,
and by the pompous promises that he daily retailed on
paper or held forth in his harangues."
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION
35
of soldiers; but, for want of a sufficient
supply of arms, as, though a search had
been made in the houses at Reikevig the
day after Count Tramp's deposition, only
twenty or thirty old fowling-pieces, most of
them useless, and a few swords and pistols
had been found, the number of those en-
gaged was necessarily restricted to eight
men, who, dressed in green uniforms, armed
with swords and pistols, and mounted on
good ponies, scoured the country in various
directions, intimidating the Danes, and
making themselves highly useful to the
new governor in securing the goods and
property that were to be confiscated. As a
farther act of authority, and to shew the
clemency intended to be pursued, four pri-
soners confined in the Tught-huus, or house'
of correction, one of the most considerable
buildings belonging to the town, were re-
leased, and the place itself converted into
barracks for the soldiers. Some of the troop
were soon employed in seizing the persons
of two of the civil officers, the Landfogued,
Mr. Frydensberg, and Assessor Einersen*
>
* See journal, vol. i. page S9, for a farther account
of this transaction.
36
APPENDIX. A.
who were kept in confinement, the former
for one night, the latter for eight or ten
days, both upon a charge of being at the
head of a conspiracy to raise a number of
men, who were, after securing the English
in the town, to have attacked the Margaret
and Anne and made prisoners of her crew.
The shops and warehouses in Reikevig be-
longing to Danes not resident in Iceland
were from the first day put under guard, and
the goods confiscated, and persons were sent
to the distant towns to execute the same
errand.
Mr. Jorgensen, having now fixed himself
in the possession of supreme power, with
the title of His Excellency, the Protector
of Iceland, Commander in Chief by Sea
and Land, posted up, on the 11th of July,
another proclamation *, in which it was
declared in the first article, "We Jorgen
Jorgensen have taken upon ourselves the
government of the country until a regular
constitution can be established, with power
to make war and conclude peace with foreign
potentates;" in the second it is stated that
*See Appendix B., No. 5.
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
37
the soldiery (consisting as just mentioned of
eight natives) had chosen him to be their
leader, and to conduct the whole military
department: by the third article a new flag
is appointed for Iceland, the honor of which
Mr. Jorgensen promises to defend with his
life and blood: the fourth abolishes the an-
cient seal of the country and determines that
his own private one is to be used until the
representatives of the people shall have fixed
upon a new one: in the fifth the time
granted to the civil officers for declaring
their obedience or resignation is prolonged
to ten days for the nearest, and four weeks
for the most distant parts of the country,
after the expiration of which period all who
have not given in their declarations are to
be suspended from their employments; the
sixth article announces that all officers who
shall resign are to repair to Westmannoe
(Westman's Isles), until an opportunity is
found to convey them to Copenhagen: the
seventh promises to that part of the clergy
who are willing to declare themselves in his
favor, that their circumstances shall be bet-
tered: the eighth repeats the intention of
placing the island in a state of defence: the
38
APPENDIX. A.
ninth announces the design of sending an
ambassador to his British Majesty to con-
clude peace: the tenth contains something
relative to the duties and rights of British
subjects living in Iceland: the eleventh
states that none but Icelanders are qualified
to fill public employments: the twelfth
shews that Mr. Jorgensen intends continu-
ing in his office until a regular constitution
is established: the thirteenth again declares.
the confiscation of Danish property, which,
by the fourteenth, the Amptmend are en-
joined to execute: by the fifteenth we learn
that some civil officers, in order to secure
themselves against the displeasure of the
king, their master, had expressed a wish that
they might be compelled to exercise their
public functions: the sixteenth article has for
its object the upholding of the new governor
by forbidding all irreverence towards his
person: in the seventeenth and last it is
observed that the laws and regulations shall
remain as before until the new constitution
is established, except that it is permitted
*
* This exception does not at all meet the approbation
of Count Tramp, who observes, "that it is very favor-
able for malefactors and suspicious persons." But the
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
39
for every Icelander to proceed from place
to place, and to trade wherever and in what-
ever manner he pleases, without having
passports from Amptmend or other autho-
rities; and it is decreed that all sentences
and acts of condemnation must be signed by
Mr. Jorgensen, before they can be put in
execution.
The Icelandic colors* ordained by this
proclamation, containing the representation
Etatsroed goes farther, and says that, "the permission
granted to ramble without a passport along the country
is a circumstance unheard of in other places, and affords
very good opportunity to robbers, murderers, troops of
thieves, and criminals of all sorts to commit mischiefs
and crimes unpunished!" Mr. Jorgensen, however,
considers it a just and necessary clause, for, according
to the old laws, no person could remove from one dis-
trict to another without a written permission from an
officer; in consequence of which it frequently happened
that this officer would not grant a passport, without the
peasant promised to buy the necessary supplies for his
family from some particular factor, by which he perhaps.
might be compelled to pay double what would be asked
by others.
* The true and old ensign of Iceland is a slit cod or
stock-fish, environed by an oval garland.
40
APPENDIX. A.
of three split stockfish upon a dark blue
ground, were shortly afterwards for the first
time displayed upon the top of one of the
warehouses of the town, under a salute of
eleven guns from the Margaret and Anne,
and were afterwards hoisted upon Sundays,
and occasionally on other days. Mr. Jorgen-
sen now, as much perhaps for the sake of
finding what merchandise could be procured,
as for the purpose of seeing that his various
proclamations were respected, accompanied
by five of his soldiers, made a journey across
the country to its most northern parts, in the
course of which he was every where received
with the kindest welcome, as well whilst his
guard was with him, as on his return when
only escorted by a single Icelander. In all
places that he visited, the natives crowded
about him to relate the impositions they were
subjected to by the Danes, and to assure
him of their satisfaction in the prospect of
being freed from their tyranny.
During the time he was occupied in this
expedition, Mr. Phelps was employed in
executing a part of his Excellency's orders,
by putting the town and harbor of Reikevig
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
41
in a state of defence, an office he readily un-
dertook for the security of the very consider-
able property he now had there, as well as
of that which he still expected from Eng-
land. For this purpose a battery, denomi-
nated Fort Phelps, was formed near the
town, at which the natives, in great num-
bers, and the crew of the Margaret and Anne,
worked with so much alacrity that it was in
a short time completed, and mounted with
six guns, that had been dug up from the
sand on the shore, where they had long been
lying; having been sent over from Denmark
one hundred and forty years ago.
The order for the confiscation of all Danish
property in the island, which was begun to
be put in execution immediately after the
publication of the second proclamation, was
still more vigorously prosecuted on Mr. Jor-
gensen's return from the north. The pro-
perty contained in the shops and warehouses
in Reikevig, which had from the first day
been secured by a guard, was now put under
sequestration, and persons were sent for the
more effectually enforcing of the decree to
the distant factories, such as Havnfiord and
42
APPENDIX. A.
Köblevig. Among other things, possession
was taken of two thousand six hundred rix-
dollars *, belonging to the public chest, under
the care of Mr. Adzer Knudson, and a seizure
was made from a Mr. Strube, of a stock of
tallow, train-oil, fish, and woollen goods,
belonging to a trading company at Flens-
burg, and another of a considerable quantity
* Count Tramp observes that, according to a specifi-
cation drawn up by Mr. Phelps, the public money forci-
bly seized in Iceland by Mr. Jorgensen amounted in the
whole to nineteen thousand two hundred and twenty
rix-dollars, eighty-six skillings, Danish currency. Mr.
Jorgensen, however, who appears to have kept an ex-
tremely accurate account of money received either by
confiscation or from the public officers, as well as of
sums issued in the payment of salaries and for other
public purposes, states the former at sixteen thousand
nine hundred and fifty-five rix-dollars, two marks, and
eight skillings; and the latter at sixteen thousand nine
hundred and sixty-one rix-dollars, five marks, and four
skillings. Other sums were advanced by Mr. Phelps to
meet the demands of various persons, but these did not
come under the head of public expences. It is to be
remarked, that Mr. Sysselman Koefoed had collected
king's taxes to the amount of twelve hundred and ninety-
five dollars, which were consequently considered as pro-
perty to be confiscated; but as this gentleman had laid
out the money in the purchase of land, Mr. Jorgensen
did not claim any of it.
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
43
of goods from a mercantile concern established
in Nordburg. I have already mentioned the
circumstance of the ship Orion * being made
a prize: possession was now likewise taken
of the cargo that remained still on board,
and the part of it that had been unshipped
was also confiscated. It happened shortly
after that another Danish vessel, commanded
by Captain Holme, which is said by Count
Tramp to have had a licence from Great
Britain, arrived in Iceland with a supply of
* This was the only vessel that was seized.
† As a difficulty may be supposed to exist upon the
question of licences, and it may be considered by many
of my readers that the taking violent possession of a
ship furnished with one, must in every case be an act
of piracy, I beg leave to subjoin an explanation on this
head, with which I have been very lately favored by Mr.
Jorgensen. When the British government grants a
licence, it is expressly stipulated that the ship shall pro-
ceed directly from such a port to such a port, specifying
their names. But should it happen, which is very fre-
quently the case with vessels trading to Iceland, that
after having procured a licence, in going from an Eng-
lish port they observe the sea clear and free from cruizers,
they will run into Norway, sell their cargo there and go
back to Copenhagen for another; but if they then, on
their way to Iceland, meet an English ship of war, they
44
APPENDIX. A.
necessary articles for the country, the whole
of which, together with ten thousand rix-
dollars for the payment of the salaries of the
public officers, &c., was considered lawful
will produce their licence, though in reality it is no se-
curity for that cargo. But should it happen that the
people on board the man of war observe such a licenced
ship, with a favorable wind, to be steering a course
different from her direct one, and thereby deviating
from the route pointed out in her licence, that vessel is
a lawful prize. At other times, indeed, licences are only
granted for a certain limited time, and, if exhibited
after the expiration of the period expressed in the li-
cence, such a vessel is also a good prize. One or other
was the case with all the vessels in the Iceland ports in
the summer of 1809, but none of them would have
been condemned in England if they had been seized by
the letter of marque, because they were then lying at a
port to which their licences permitted them to proceed.
That they had forfeited the protection granted them by
their licence could not be proved by the ship's papers,
though it could from letters to different people on the
island: these, however, are not admitted in a court of
admiralty. The case of the Orion differs from the for-
mer ones, in as much as the person to whom the licence
was granted (Adzer Knutzen) was not with the vessel;
but since the papers, which proved the forfeiture of the
licence, were not on board the vessel at the time of her
seizure, she was not considered a legal prize, and was
restored to the owner.
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
45
plunder, and the Landfogued, Mr. Frydens-
berg, was compelled to deliver up the public
money chest of the country, containing two
thousand seven hundred rix-dollars.
In addition to the above, the four follow-
ing circumstances are stated, as the most
aggravating acts of violence and oppression
that took place, by Count Tramp, who pro-
fesses to regard the whole as a regular sys-
tem of plunder, and considers this as the
leading object in every thing that was done
by Mr. Phelps or Mr. Jorgensen :—first, that
Mr. Savigniac proceeded armed to a settle-
ment at Oreback, belonging to a merchant
of the name of Lambertsen*, taking with
him a number of horses loaded with goods,
* Of this affair, which is by Count Tramp regarded as
a case of peculiar hardship, I have just received from
Mr. Jorgensen the following explanation: Mr. Lambert-
sen is owner of a vessel accustomed to trade between
Iceland and Norway, for which purpose, early in the
year 1808, he procured from the British government a
licence, empowering him to convey to Iceland a cargo of
provisions. Of this circumstance he had apprised his
factor Sivertsen, who, after waiting till August, 1809,
in expectation of the arrival of his principal, concluded
that he must either be lost, or that he had taken ad-
46
APPENDIX. A.
consisting chiefly of tobacco and coffee with
other articles of luxury, which Mr. Lambert-
sen's factor was forced to receive, though, far
from having ordered any thing of the kind, he
vantage of his licence to carry on an illicit trade, as is
often done between the different parts of Denmark, and
that he would at all events not appear till the following
year. The inhabitants of Oreback being therefore
greatly distressed, as two years had now elapsed since
any ship had come to them with provisions, and Mr.
Lambertsen's own stock of goods, which had been lying
all that time in his storehouses, beginning to be injured
by keeping, Mr. Sivertsen wrote to Mr. Jorgensen dif-
ferent petitions, begging him to use his interest with
Mr. Phelps to supply Oreback over land with things of
absolute necessity; to which, after some delay, that
gentleman assented, and an agreement was drawn up
and signed by both parties, stipulating that a return
should be made for goods so sent from Mr. Lambertsen's
storehouses. Mr. Sivertsen, in consequence of this, gave
an order to Mr. Petreus, Mr. Phelps' agent, for different
articles, such as tobacco, coffee, sugar, cloth, &c.; the
whole of which was accordingly sent on thirty-five horses,
which returned laden with Icelandic produce; the ex-
pence of conveyance both to and from Oreback being
defrayed by Mr. Phelps. Mr. Lambertsen at this time
unexpectedly arrived, and was naturally hurt, as well at
finding that the goods with which he had calculated on
loading his own ship were in the possession of Mr. Phelps,
as that his warehouses were filled with the property of
the latter, which would obstruct the sale of what he had
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
47
had applied to Mr. Jorgensen to be excused
from taking them in; and that, in exchange
for these, Mr. Savigniac compelled him to
give up a quantity of merchandize, of which
a return had previously been made to go-
vernment :-secondly, that an accusation of
oppresion and extortion having been made.
against Mr. Poulsen, a factor belonging to
Mr. Petreus' establishment at Westmannoe,
he was, without any inquiry into the grounds
of the accusation, or without being allowed
to speak in his own defence, summoned to
appear at Reikevig, where he was detained
for several days, and all the goods upon the
island whether belonging to the factory or to
any other person were confiscated:-thirdly,
a vessel belonging to Mr. Clausen, which
had a British licence, was seized and had
her cargo confiscated; it was, however, after-
wards restored-fourthly, Mr. Lambertsen,
himself imported. He therefore refused to ratify the
agreement, and complained to Captain Jones of what he
called the forcible taking away of his goods, requiring
to be paid for them, though it was sufficiently notorious
that he had already been over paid, in as much as coffee,
&c., are more than equivalent to the same weight of
Icelandic produce.
48
APPENDIX. A,
the merchant of Oreback just mentioned, on
his return to Iceland from Denmark, confi-
dent in the security afforded him by his
British Majesty's licence, was in like manner
ordered to appear at Reikevig, where he was
for some time detained, and the cargo he
had brought to the country was confiscated. *
* The second and fourth of these charges are of so
notorious a kind, that little as I interested myself in
political affairs in the island, it struck me while perusing
them, that such facts could not well have transpired
without their coming under my knowledge; but as I
could not call to mind any such circumstances I thought
it best to inquire of Mr. Jorgensen how far they were
correct. From his answer, which confirms my own
ideas, I have a further proof of the inaccuracy of the
information which Count Tramp obtained from the
Danes and other interested persons in the island, who in
these instances have plainly imposed upon him, "and
who," to use Mr. Jorgensen's words, "very probably
square their accounts at his expence. "The situation
of Westmannoe is such, that it never would have an-
swered the purpose to have confiscated property there;
besides which the goods belonged to Mr. Petreus, who
had none of his property touched either there or at
Reikevig. Mr. Lambertsen's cargo was exempt from
confiscation; or, had it not been so, there would not
have been time to have seized it, since it came to the
island but just before Captain Jones' arrival, after
whose interference nothing was confiscated. It is true,
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
49
An event as unforeseen as it was unfavor-
able to the present state of political and
commercial affairs happened in the arrival
at Havnfiord of the Talbot sloop of war,
commanded by the Honorable Alexander
Jones, to whom the factors of the Danish
merchants resident in that place lost no time
Mr. Lambertsen had an order to deliver ten thousand
dollars, public money, brought in his ship, but it was
never done.-The following information is all that I
have been able to procure upon the subject of the revo-
lution in addition to what is related in the first edition
of this work. It was communicated to me by my friend,
Mr. Clausen, whom I have lately had the pleasure of
seeing in England, and whom I particularly requested
to point out to me any error or mis-statement which he
might find on perusing the narrative.-"I know that
Mr. Poulsen was detained some days in Reikevig,
charged with oppressing the inhabitants in Westman-
noe, which, however, never was proved, and that he
was not permitted to speak in his defence, or to get
any satisfaction for the improper accusation. But if
any goods were confiscated I am unacquainted with the
circumstance. During my stay in Reikevig I saw a
letter from Mr. Jorgensen, in the possession of Mr.
Lambertsen, ordering him not to leave Reikevig with-
out his (Mr. Jorgensen's) permission; which letter
afterwards was destroyed by Mr. Jorgensen himself,
who obtained it from Mr. Lambertsen under pretence
of wishing to peruse it."
VOL. II.
E
50
APPENDIX, A.
in submitting such a partial and exaggerated
statement of all that had taken place, as
might be expected from men whose passions
and whose interests were so materially in-
volved. Captain Jones, therefore, for the
purpose of becoming better informed upon
this subject, sailed round without delay to
Reikevig Bay, where, among the first objects
he saw, was the dark blue flag, with three
white stockfish on the upper quarter, waving
upon one of the warehouses in the town.
Immediately upon his arrival, Count Tramp,
a prisoner * in the Margaret and Anne, in
which he had been confined ever since his
* There appears to me to be no just reason for the
severe treatment which Count Tramp states that he
received during his imprisonment in the Margaret and
Anne. A love of truth and a desire to make the present
narrative an impartial one, urges me to the insertion of
the count's own relation of these circumstances. Per-
haps an apology for indignities offered at the period of
the seizure of his person may be found in the hurried
manner in which it was done, and the inflamed state of
the minds of the persons concerned in it, in conse-
quence of the suspected ill conduct of the governor,
but no such excuse can be made in the more tranquil
time of the imprisonment, for a filthy cabin and an
uninterrupted confinement of nine weeks. With regard
to the count's general fare, I always thought that he
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION
51
1
capture, solicited an interview with him,
when he stated how ill he had been himself
personally used, and how contrary to all the
laws of nations; adding, that Mr. Jorgensen
was allowed a supply of every necessary from the
Landfogued, Mr. Frydensberg, or from his factor,
Mr. Simmonsen; and, indeed, I feel almost confident of
it. Yet he says,
"Bent down under the weight of so
much grief and affliction united, it now became my lot
to be kept confined in a narrow and dirty cabin, and
sometimes, when Captain Liston took it into his head,
even shut up in a small room, or rather closet*, where
I was deprived of the light of the day. Constantly I
was obliged to put up with the society of drunken and
noisy mates, and with them for my companions, I was
reduced to subsist on fare which even the men com-
plained of as being more than commonly indifferent; in
short, I was deprived for the space of nine weeks of
every convenience and comfort of life to which I had
been used, and subjected to all the sufferings which the
oppressor had it in his power to inflict. His contempt
of decorum and humanity even went so far as to refuse
a request that was made on my behalf by one of my
friends, Bishop Videlin, that I might be allowed to
take exercise on a small uninhabited island near which
the ship was lying. I would even have submitted to be
*This circumstance happened only once or twice, when the
great number of Danes, and the refractory conduct of some of
them, called for the assistance of many of the crew from the
Margaret and Anne: at such times it was thought the appearance
of the count upon deck might encourage the insurrection.
具备
​52
APPENDIX. A.
was not only a traitor to his own country
(Denmark), but equally so to Great Britain,
which he had first served and then fought
against; and was now acting in rebellion to
both, by hoisting the above-mentioned flag
and by declaring the island free, neutral and
independent, and at peace with all nations.
Captain Jones, in consequence of this in-
formation, felt it incumbent upon him to
require from Mr. Phelps an explanation of
his conduct, and received in answer a brief
account of the various transactions which
had taken place since his landing in the
island, with the motives which had urged
under an armed escort of the ship's crew, if it had
been thought necessary, whom I offered to pay for the
trouble; yet this request Mr. Phelps refused through
Jorgensen, of whose letter to that purpose I have the
honor to add a translation. It is remarkable in par-
ticular for the assurance it contains that Mr. Phelps
could not justify his conduct to his own government,
were he to adopt any other measures than those which
had been taken."-Even supposing it to be true, as
here stated by the count, that he was reduced to live
upon the fare of the common sailors, I will not deny
that it might appear hard to him who was used to a
different mode of living, but I am fully persuaded that
such was far from being the case with the sailors, who
never had any cause for complaint, nor expressed any.
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
53
him to the measures he had adopted *.
Having thus far obtained from all parties
the most correct information upon the affairs
of the island, and having understood from
Mr. Jorgensen himself how he was situated
with regard to England, Captain Jones
considered himself called upon by his official
situation to interfere in a business in which
the honor of his country appeared to him to
be implicated, and he accordingly issued
orders that the new Icelandic flag should be
taken down; that Mr. Phelps should no
longer leave the command of the island in
the hands of Mr. Jorgensen, but should, till
the will of the British government could be
known, either restore the foriner authorities,
or commit the supreme command to some of
the most respectable among the inhabitants;
that the battery should be destroyed, and the
guns
taken off the island; that the natives
* A copy of Captain Jones' letter to Mr. Phelps, and
the reply of the latter, which contains a more detailed
account of what transpired at this time than I have
thought necessary to insert in the narrative, will be
found in the Appendix B., Nos. 6 and 7. No. 8 of the
same Appendix is the copy of a letter from Captain Jones
to Admiral Sir Edmund Neagle, explaining in few words
his motives for having interfered in the manner he did.
54
APPENDIX. A.
should be no longer trained to the use of
arms; that an account of the proceedings
should be prepared and dispatched to the
British government; and that Mr. Jorgensen
and Count Tramp should be forthwith sent
to England.
These conditions were accordingly com-
plied with, and an agreement* concluded
between Captain Jones and Mr. Phelps on
one part, and the Etatsroed Stephensen and
the Amptman his brother on the other, in
which it was stipulated, that the latter
gentlemen, being the next in rank to Count
Tramp, should take upon them the govern-
ment of the island, and be responsible for
the persons and property of British subjects.
Mr. Phelps, therefore, together with Count
Tramp and Lieutenant Stewart of the Talbot
(the latter charged with dispatches from
Captain Jones) embarked in the Margaret
and Anne, and Mr. Jorgensen in the Orion,
for England. On the third day of the voyage,
however, the Danish prisoners, as is detailed
in the journal, set fire to the Margaret and
* See Appendix B., No. 9.
4
;
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
55
Anne; in consequence of which she was
entirely consumed; but the passengers and
crew, having been providentially saved by
the Orion, returned on the 29th of August
to Reikevig, where no other alteration in
affairs took place, except that Mr. Phelps
and Mr. Jorgensen* with Lieutenant Stewart
* Having thus brought to a conclusion that part
of the narrative in which Mr. Jorgensen has been
concerned, it may be interesting to some of my
readers to know what has since happened to him, and
what punishment he has suffered for having un-
guardedly broken his parole. On arriving in town he
took up his abode in his accustomed lodgings at the
Spread-Eagle Inn, Gracechurch-street, where, so far
from wishing to remain in concealment, he received
letters addressed to him without disguise, and even
wrote to the Admiralty, and presented himself before
the lords commissioners of that court. No notice, how-
ever, was taken of what he had done by any of the
public offices, until, from private resentment, inform-
ation was given to the Transport Board that he had
broken his parole, and it was farther, though falsely,
added, that he had also secreted himself. He was
consequently arrested, and confined in Tothill-fields
Bridewell, whence he was removed to the usual depôt of
prisoners under a similar predicament, Chatham hulks.
On board the Bahama, with frequently five and even
seven hundred prisoners of the worst description in the
same vessel, he was kept in close custody for a twelve-
56
APPENDIX. A.
embarked in the Orion for England, and
Count Tramp with his Secretary, and a Dane,
a Sysselman of Iceland, (who was considered
a necessary witness to the count) were ac-
commodated by Captain Jones in the Talbot.
month. During this interval his bitterest enemies, the
Danes, had frequent opportunities of bringing forward
charges against him, to which he had no opportunity
of replying, but which tended materially to injure
him. He was, however, released from that rigorous
confinement, and placed for a while in a comparative
state of liberty, upon his parole at Reading; since which
time he has been allowed to be fully at large; and here
I will beg leave to close my short account of the trans-
actions of this man, by a passage extracted from his ma-
nuscript narrative of the revolution of Iceland, which he
employed himself in writing during the severity of his
confinement.—" If there are any charges against me,
let those people making them come forward in an open,
fair and candid manner.-Let me see my accusers face
to face, and how easily shall I confront them!-but
this they dread, for truth must prevail. Where, in the
name of God, is there any man in Iceland who can
make a just complaint? Is any man injured in property
or liberty? Is there any innocent blood crying ven-
geance against me? If I have shed that of a fellow
creature, either in a just or unjust manner, let my head
pay for it! If I have gained only one shilling at the
public expence, let my right hand suffer for it! If I
have enriched myself to the detriment of any one
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
57
On arriving in London Count Tramp
gladly embraced the opportunity which pre-
sented itself of submitting to the under-
secretary of state a full detail of all the events
that had taken place in Iceland, connected
with the late revolution, and a petition for
the redress of such injuries as were t herein
stated to have been received by Danish mer-
chants, or by the Danish government; for it
must be remembered that not a single Ice-
lander was injured either in person or pro-
perty.
What reception these representations met
with from our government I have never been
able to learn. Certainly no public notice
was ever taken of them. To prevent, how-
ever, future attacks upon the island from the
owners of letters of marque who may be
actuated by less honorable motives than
individual, let my left hand be cut off! If I have caused
any one single person or more to be confined for being
opposite in principles to me, let me feel the horrors of
perpetual imprisonment myself! But, ifI have done none
of these, let me enjoy that liberty which I look upon as
the only true good on earth. The British government
has a power to crush; it has also a power to be merciful,”
I
58
APPENDIX. A.
those which urged Mr. Phelps to send his
vessels thither, Sir Joseph Banks again
stepped forward in behalf of his favorite Ice-
landers, and through his kind and benevolent
exertions an order in council was issued,
strictly forbidding all acts of hostilities against
the poor and defenceless colonies of the
Danish dominions, and permitting them to
trade with the parent country unmolested by
British cruisers. Such conduct on our part
could not but give ample satisfaction to
Count Tramp, whose own words upon this
subject are, "the peculiar favor which Ice-
land and its concerns have met with here,
and the manner in which His British Ma-
jesty's ministers have interested themselves
in its welfare, and above all the security ob-
tained for the future, has entirely obliterated
all bitterness from my heart." In another
letter to me he says, when speaking of the
proclamation declaring the island to be neu-
tral and the inhabitants placed upon a foot-
ing with other friendly strangers, I appre-
hend that the people of Iceland with the
greatest anxiousness expect the news from
England, which, being now so consoling
and in every respect so comforting, I should
1
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
59
feel myself wanting in duty if I did not
forward it as speedily as possible." It may
not be improper to insert in this place a copy
of the above-mentioned proclamation:
AT THE
Court at the Queen's Palace, February 7, 1810,
PRESENT
THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY,
IN COUNCIL.
“Whereas it has been humbly represented
to his Majesty, that the islands of Ferroe
and Iceland, and also certain settlements on
the coast of Greenland, parts of the do-
minions of Denmark, have, since the com-
mencement of the war between Great Britain
and Denmark, been deprived of all inter-
course with Denmark, and the inhabitants
of those islands and settlements are, in con-
sequence of the want of their accustomed
supplies, reduced to extreme misery, being
without many of the necessaries and of most
of the conveniences of life.
"His Majesty, being moved by compas-
sion for the sufferings of these defenceless
people, has, by and with the advice of his
60
APPENDIX. A.
privy council, thought fit to declare his royal
will and pleasure, and it is hereby declared
and ordered, that the said islands of Ferroe
and Iceland, and the settlements on the coast
of Greenland, and the inhabitants thereof,
and the property therein, shall be exempted
from the attack and hostility of His Majesty's
forces and subjects, and that the ships be-
longing to the inhabitants of such islands
and settlements, and all goods being of the
growth, produce, or manufacture, of the said
islands or settlements, on board the ships
belonging to such inhabitants, engaged in a
direct trade between such islands and settle-
ments respectively and the ports of London
or Leith, shall not be liable to seizure and
confiscation as prize,
"His Majesty is further pleased to order,
with the advice aforesaid, that the people of
all the said islands and settlements be con-
sidered, when resident in His Majesty's
dominions, as stranger friends, under the
safeguard of His Majesty's royal peace, and
entitled to the protection of the laws of the
realm, and in no case treated as alien
enemies.
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
61
"His Majesty is further pleased to order,
with the advice aforesaid, that the ships of
the united kingdom, navigated according to
law, be permitted to repair to the said
islands and settlements, and to trade with the
inhabitants thereof.
"And His Majesty is further pleased to
order, with the advice aforesaid, that all His
Majesty's cruisers and all other his subjects
be inhibited from committing any acts of
depredation or violence against the persons,
ships, and goods of any of the inhabitants of
the said islands and settlements, and against
any property in the said islands and settle-
ments respectively.
"And the right honorable the lords com-
missioners of His Majesty's treasury, His
Majesty's principal secretaries of state, the
lords commissioners of the admiralty, and
the judge of the high court of admiralty, and
the judges of the courts of vice-admiralty,
are to take the necessary measures herein, as
to them shall respectively appertain."
(Signed)
"W. FAWKENER."
62
APPENDIX. A.
Hence then it appears that a mercantile
speculation the most unfortunate, and a revo-
lution the most singular in its nature, have
been the means of placing the island in a
greater state of security than formerly; and
a way has thus been opened for bettering the
condition of its inhabitants, provided the
Danish government has compassion enough
upon the most injured of its subjects to per-
mit the humane intentions of his British
Majesty's ministers to be carried into effect.
Should this not be the case (and such seems
more than probable, from the late decrees
of that country, strictly prohibiting, on pain
of death, all intercourse with the British),
then will the state of the natives be more
wretched than ever; unless, which I sincerely
flatter myself will be the case, England should
no longer hesitate about the adoption of a
step to which every native Icelander looks
forward as the greatest blessing that can
befal his country, and which to England
herself would, I am persuaded, be productive
of various signal advantages, the taking pos-
session of Iceland and holding it among her
dependencies. Iceland, thus freed from the
yoke of an inefficient but presumptuous ty-
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
63
rant, might then, guarded by the protection
of our fleets, and fostered by the liberal policy
of our commercial laws, look forward to a
security that Denmark could never afford,
and to a prosperity that the selfishness of the
Danes has always prevented: while England
would find herself repaid for her generous
conduct by the extension of her fisheries,
the surest source of her prosperity, and by
the safety which the numerous harbors of
the island afford for her merchantmen against
the storms and perils of the arctic ocean.
END OF APPENDIX. A.
#
APPENDIX. B.
PROCLAMATIONS, LETTERS,
AND
OTHER DOCUMENTS,
RELATIVE TO THE
ICELANDIC REVOLUTION.
VOL. II.
F
APPENDIX. B.
PROCLAMATIONS.
1
N° 1.
PROCLAMATION.
Reikevig, June 26, 1809.
1. ALL Danish authority ceases in Iceland.
2. All Danes, or factors, connected with
Danish mercantile houses, shall remain within
doors, and are not to be seen in the streets,
nor to converse with each other, nor to send
written or verbal messages from one to the
other, without having permission so to do.
68
APPENDIX. B.
1
3. All officers under Danish government
shall not leave their respective houses, and
are under the same restrictions as those men-
tioned in the foregoing paragraph.
4. All sorts of arms, without exception,
such as muskets, pistols, cutlasses, daggers, or
ammunition, shall instantly be delivered up.
5. In case any of the inhabitants, either
women or children, shall bring messages to
or from a Dane, without permission, they
shall be punished as enemies to the state.
Nevertheless, should the child be ignorant of
its crime, the person sending it shall be
punished instead of the child.
6. All keys to public and private store-
houses shall be delivered up. All money or
bank notes, belonging to the king or factors
connected with Danish commercial houses,
shall be laid under lock and key. All books
of accounts or papers belonging to the king
or factors shall be surrendered.
7. Two hours and a half are allowed in
Reikevig, and twelve hours in Havnfiord to
PROCLAMATION. N° 1.
69
execute these orders. Respecting other places,
proper arrangements will take place hereafter.
8. All natives, women or children of what-
ever description, all Icelanders in office have
nothing to fear; for they will be treated in
the best manner, provided they do not violate
the articles contained in the proclamation.
9. Should these orders be speedily exe-
cuted, it will save a great deal of unnecessary
trouble and the effusion of blood. But, on
the contrary, should any person act in oppo-
sition to what is here directed, he shall
immediately be arrested, brought before a
military tribunal, and shot within two hours
after the offence is committed.
10. Whenever the above articles are known
to be carried into effect, a proclamation will
be issued, by which the Icelanders will find
that nothing but the true welfare of their
country is in view, and that our proceedings
are solely calculated to insure a peace and
happiness little known to the inhabitants in
later years.
70
APPENDIX. B.
'
11. This proclamation shall immediately
be translated into Icelandic, and posted up in
the most public places, so that the natives.
may be convinced that nothing will be done
prejudicial to their liberty, nor to their dis-
advantage in any shape whatever.
In case it can be proved that any person shall have
acted against the tenor of this proclamation, the person
or persons proving the same shall receive a reward of
fifty rix-dollars.
(Signed)
JORGEN JORGENSEN.
N° 2.
PROCLAMATION.
Reikevig, June 26, 1809.
1. Iceland is free and independent of
Denmark.
2. All public officers, who are natives of
Iceland, who remain faithful to their own
PROCLAMATION. N° 1.
71
country, and who will make oath to execute
their functions, shall receive their full salaries.
3. All public officers, who are natives of
Iceland, and who remain pacific, shall be
respected.
4. All pensions to widows, infants, or
officers retired from office, shall be paid.
5. The officers in different ampts or dis-
tricts shall take care that an honest and sen-
sible person is chosen, who is well acquainted
with the situation of his country, and who is
to represent his own district. All laws and
acts are to come from such representatives.
They are to be maintained at the expence of
the state, and to be established on the same
footing as those were before the island became
dependent on the Kings of Norway.
6. Every officer under government, who
wishes to remain in his situation, shall notify
the same in a letter to me. A fortnight is
allowed in the nearest places and seven weeks
in the most distant for the purpose, unless
bad roads or other insurmountable obstacles
72
APPENDIX. B.
$
should make it impracticable to furnish an
answer so soon; but in such case the reasons
for the delay must be communicated at the
bottom of the letter. Officers, not remain-
ing in office, cannot expect any assistance
from the present government, and other offi
cers will be appointed in their places.
7. None but natives can be members of
the legislative body, or represent the people
in their respective districts.
8. Iceland has its own flag.
9. Iceland shall be at peace with all nations,
and peace is to be established with Great Bri-
tain, which will protect it.
10. Iceland shall be set in a state of defence.
11. All hospitals and schools shall be
established on a better footing than what they
have been hitherto.
12. All debts due to the former Danish
government, or the factors connected with
Danish mercantile houses, shall not be paid;
PROCLAMATION. N° 2.
73
nor any money which there is a possibility
of remitting to Denmark. Every person so
indebted is exempt from paying the sums
due. But should any such debtor attempt
to pay any part thereof, at any time, he shall
be compelled to pay the whole amount to
the present government.
13. All kinds of grain shall by no means
be sold at exorbitant prices.
14. All Icelanders are exempted from one
half of their taxes till the 1st of July, 1810.
15. The inhabitants can proceed uninter-
ruptedly from place to place and trade
wherever and with whomsoever they please,
except Danish merchants not resident in
Iceland.
16. Till such time as the natives shall send
in their representatives, all public officers,
and persons who have money due from go-
vernment, may address me for the same, and
they shall be paid.
17. No man shall be judged or punished,
after the representatives are assembled, with-
74
APPENDIX. B.
肆
​out being found deserving of punishment by
twelve of his fellow-citizens.
18. Every public officer, of whatever de-
nomination, shall endeavour to prevent all
communication with Danish ships. A speci-
fication shall be given in of what grain is
necessary for each district, so that it may be
transported thither before the setting in of
the winter; and care shall be taken that
hereafter the island shall be supplied with
corn for one year to come.
19. No Icelander must, on account of the
late liberty being granted, presume to offend
or assault a person for being a Dane, nor for
having held a situation under the king, nor
for having been in the employment of, or
connected with, a Danish mercantile house,
provided they do not interfere with the po-
litical affairs of the island.
* * The number of representatives to be sent are
three from the southern ampt, one from the eastern
ampt, two from the northern, and two from the west-
ern ampt.
(Signed)
JORGEN JORGENSEN.
PROCLAMATION. N° 3.
75
N° 3.
PROCLAMATION.
Reikevig, June 29, 1809.
We are informed that certain evil-minded
people have propagated false reports in the
country; and have represented to the inha-
bitants that it is dangerous to travel from
place to place, and that much blood has been
spilled in the streets of Reikevig by the
English. The inhabitants need not be un-
der any apprehensions, but may rest assured
that no violence will be committed against
them, and that they are at full liberty to fol-
low their lawful occupations without molest-
ation; and it is hereby declared that all such
rumours are entirely without foundation.—
All persons that do or shall hereafter spread
such false reports, shall be deemed enemies.
to the state, and it will be necessary to treat
all such people, who do not demean them-
selves as peaceable citizens, with the utmost
severity.
(Signed)
JORGEN JORGENSEN.
76
APPENDIX. B.
#
N° 4.
PROCLAMATION.
Reikevig, July 1, 1809.
We are informed that some discontent
exists on account of the natives interpreting
an article in the proclamation of the 26th of
June, to a total exemption from all debts.
whatever.—It is hereby declared, that only
such debt is remitted which is due to the
king, or to such Danish mercantile houses,
whose principals are not residents of Iceland.
It is further declared, that all such Danish
merchants, whose wives and children are at
present in Iceland, and who themselves wish
to remain in the island, shall receive all debts
due to them, and, in case of refusal, the per-
sons concerned will communicate the same
to me, who engage to see justicc done. On
the other hand, all such natives as have
money due from Danish merchants' mercan-
tile houses on the island, shall have the same
paid to them, if such debt can be proved by
their books.
(Signed)
JORGEN JORGENSEN,
PROCLAMATION. Nº 5.
77
N° 5.
PROCLAMATION.
Reikevig, July 11, 1809.
In our proclamation, dated the 26th of
June, 1809, it was requested that the nearest
districts should, within a fortnight, and the
more distant, within a certain limited time,
send in representatives, to consult what was
best to be done in the present exigency.
We find, however, that the public officers
have far from facilitated such a meeting; and
we are therefore under the necessity of no
longer resisting the wish of the people, who
have earnestly solicited us to manage the
administration of public affairs, and who
have in hundreds offered to serve in the
defence of their country.-It is therefore
declared,
1. That We, Jorgen Jorgensen, have un-
dertaken the management of public affairs,
under the name of PROTECTOR, until a settled
constitution can be fixed on, with full power
to make war or conclude peace with foreign
powers.
78
APPENDIX. B.
$
2. That the military have nominated us
their commander by land and sea, and to
regulate the whole military department in
the country.
3. That the Icelandic flag shall be blue,
with three white stockfish thereon, and the
honor of it we promise to defend at the risk
of our life and blood.
4. That the great seal of the island shall
no longer be respected; but that all public
documents of consequence shall be signed
by my own hand, and my seal (J. J.) fixed
thereunto, until such time as the représenta-
tives shall assemble and provide a proper
seal.
5. That all public officers, who have, from
motives of patriotism, already given in de-
clarations that they were willing to serve
their country in its late difficult and danger-
ous situation, shall receive their salaries.-
On the contrary, those that have been situated
near Reikevig and not yet declared them-
selves, are totally suspended from office, pay,
and power, unless they within the 20th of
PROCLAMATION. N° 5.
79
this month give proper reasons for not having
sent in either their resignations or their wish
of continuing in office. After that date a
list shall be made out and publicly distri-
buted, of the names of all those officers who
shall either resign or continue in their
employments. Any person from the date
thereof, who shall obey any order from such
persons as have not declared themselves
shall be deemed a traitor and treated accord-
ingly. Nevertheless a month is granted to
persons residing in places more remote from
Reikevig, that they may have sufficient time
to send in their declarations.
6. That all officers who wish to resign
shall be sent to Copenhagen free of expence,
when an opportunity is found so to do. In
the mean time we command that all such
officers shall hold themselves in readiness to
be removed to Westman's Isles, so that they
may not by their intriguing disturb the pub-
lic peace and tranquillity, unless they can
give security for their future good behaviour.
7. That we have seen with the greatest
satisfaction that the Icelandic clergy, as good
80
APPENDIX. B.
*
christians, have promoted tranquillity and
good order at this dangerous period; there-
fore we promise to pay all their salaries and
pensions to clergymens' widows, and also to
improve their present situation as much as
possible.
8. That the country shall be set in a pro-
per state of defence, without additional taxes
on the nation.
9. That a person shall be invested with
full power to conclude a peace with his
Majesty, the King of Great Britain.
10. That all British subjects shall have
full permission to trade and reside in this
country, in case they do not offend against
its laws; and all who shall unprovokedly
assault a British subject, shall be punished.
11. That none but natives can hold either
civil or clerical offices.
12. That we declare and promise to lay
down our offices the moment that the repre-
sentatives shall be assembled. The time
PROCLAMATION. N° 5.
81
appointed for the convocation of the assembly
is the 1st of July, 1810; and we will then
resign when a proper and suitable constitu-
tion shall be fixed on; and it is declared
that the poor and the common people shall
have an equal share in the government with
the rich and powerful.
13. That all Danish property on the
island shall be confiscated for public use; and
if any one shall conceal money, or other
Danish goods or merchandize, he shall be
punished.
14. That the Amptmend, whether they
remain in office or not, shall see these our
orders duly executed, and shut up and put
seals on all Danish storehouses in their
ampts, and receive all confiscated monies.
15. That several officers, from fear of the
Danish government, wish to be forced to
retain their offices, though they fully approve
of our late proceedings, and therefore do we
declare, as we have nothing in view but the
real good of the country, that all such peo-
ple, as are not animated by sufficient patriot-
VOL. II.
G
82
APPENDIX. B.
ism to serve their own country, are permitted
to leave the island and go to Copenhagen.
16. The situation we now are in requires
that we should not suffer the least disrespect
to our person, neither that any one should
transgress the least article of this our pro-
clamation, which has solely in view the wel-
fare of the inhabitants of this island. We
therefore solemnly declare, that the first who
shall attempt to disturb the prosperity or
common tranquillity of the country shall
instantly suffer death, without benefit of the
civil law.
17. In all other respects the ancient laws
and regulations shall remain in full force till
such time as the constitution is settled, with
the exception that every Icelander is per-
mitted to proceed uninterruptedly from place
to place, and to trade wherever and in what-
ever manner he pleases, without having pass-
ports from Amptmend or other authorities;
yet all sentences and acts of condemnation
must be signed by us before they can be
executed.
(Signed)
JORGEN JORGENSEN.
PROCLAMATION.
83
Mr. Jorgensen's seal (J. J.) is affixed to
the original of all these five proclamations.
Mr. Jorgensen, in his own narrative, remarks as fol-
lows: "Many have found fault with different articles in
my proclamations, and alledge, that they were written
with a great deal too much severity: but this proceeded
from a perfect knowledge of the people I had to deal
with. Even if there had been some inconsistency in
them, such could not be wondered at, for we are not
to look for the same regularity, during the period of a
revolution, as when a country is perfectly tranquil. But
expressions of severity were absolutely necessary on my
part, thereby to keep the unruly in check; for I knew
my own temper so well, that, had the success of my
undertaking depended upon the shedding the blood of
one single of my fellow creatures, I should have been
obliged to desist entirely; so that, by appearing what I
really was not, I managed the whole island with ease,
Although it was said in the proclamations, that all offi-
cers who did not remain in their situations should be
transported to Westman's Isles, such a thing was never
attempted to be put in force, neither was a single indi-
vidual who resigned, driven out of his habitation, which
might have been done in those houses belonging to go-
vernment; but, on the contrary, I ordered that such
persons and their families should be supplied gratis
with every necessary from the public stores, till an
opportunity offered for them to be sent to Denmark.
Moreover, though it was publicly proclaimed, that any
one, who should disturb the public tranquillity and not
deliver up their arms, should be severely punished, the
84
APPENDIX. B.
people so offending were only slightly reprimanded.
John Bergman, with a drawn cutlass, ran about Reike-
vig, threatening destruction to us all, for which he was
only confined for two hours. Mr. Finböge, who had
concealed two thousand six hundred rix-dollars, be-
longing to Adzer Knutzen, received no manner of chas-
tisement. Sigurd Thorgrimsen suffered no punishment
for propagating reports about the country that the
streets of Reikevig were stained with the blood of Danes
and Icelanders. Assessor Einersen was arrested and
confined for a few days, upon the information of the
Etatsroed Stephensen, that he was at the head of a
conspiracy raised to attack the English.-So much for
my cruelty and severity."
N° 6.
COPY OF A LETTER
1
FROM CAPTAIN JONES TO MR. PHELPS.
SIR,
His Majesty's Sloop Talbot, Reikevig Bay,
August 19th, 1809.
The conversation I had with you respect-
ing your transactions on this island was not
with any intention of interfering, or depriv-
ing you of any power granted by govern-
LETTER FROM CAPTAIN JONES.
85
ment; but, in consequence of hearing re-
ports respecting your conduct, I deemed it
my duty to ascertain the nature of your
situation, your business here, by what autho-
rity you acted, and how far these reports
were correct, in order to give you every
protection and assistance as a British subject.
You having, however, declined in the first
instance (deeming it unnecessary) to give me
such information, and then sending me a
statement of your conduct, which appeared
to me in several respects not sanctioned by
your having a letter of marque only, I ac-
quaint you, not only that such a commu-
nication was a respect due; but that it is
a duty incumbent on all British subjects to
give every information, both relating to them-
selves and others, to the captains of any of
his Majesty's ships; and your being apprised
by letters from the lords commissioners of
the admirality of my being sent here to
protect your trade and that of this island,
ought to have convinced you of its necessity.
I therefore sent a message, appointing an
hour for you to wait on me, in order to
gain such information as would direct me
how to act; or, if necessary, to reply in
86
APPENDIX. B.
writing to your statement; which circum-
stances, together with your refusal to com-
ply with my request and a copy of this my
answer, I shall transmit by the first oppor-
tunity to the right honorable the lords com-
missioners of the admiralty. I also conceive
it my duty to acquaint you, that from your
not having any other authority, that I am
aware of, besides being owner of a letter of
marque, you appear to me to have far ex-
ceeded that authority by taking on you the
government of an island not actually consi-
dered hostile to Great Britain; the wretched
state of whose inhabitants his Majesty has
been graciously pleased so far to relieve in
winter, as to grant licences to you and even
to the enemies of Great Britain to support
them; and you have, in my opinion, not
only transgressed the laws of Great Britain,
but of all nations, by assuming an authority
which no subject of any realm whatever can
have a right to; namely, that of declaring
the island free, neutral, independent, and at
peace with all nations, and of appointing a
governor, who is not a British subject, but
a Dane; who has been an apprentice on board
an English collier; served his time as a mid-
LETTER FROM CAPTAIN JONES.
87
shipman in his Majesty's navy; afterwards
fought against Great Britain; and was made
a prisoner by an English ship of war. I un-
derstand he has issued, with your sanction,
proclamations (declaring the island no longer
under the government or control of Den-
mark) signed in a regal manner (We, Jorgen
Jorgensen); besides which, he has, in sight
of his Majesty's ship under my command,
hoisted a flag as yet unknown and is em-
ployed at this time in erecting a battery
within musket shot, without my permission,
and even without having consulted me on
the subject; which is not only taking up
arms against his own country (Denmark),
but a disrespect to my pendant. I feel my-
self called upon, therefore, to notice his
conduct, which no attachment or zeal that
gentleman may have for Great Britain can
countenance; neither would it, I am sure,
meet the approbation of government. I now
most earnestly recommend, either that you
do not leave the whole power in the island
in the hands of that gentleman alone, until
his Majesty's pleasure is known (however
qualified or respectable his character may
88
APPENDIX. B.
be), or, that you immediately restore the
former mode of government, giving the su-
preme command to some of the most respect-
able of the inhabitants of the island. It was
indispensably necessary, and was your duty,
long since to have sent an account of your
proceedings to government, which I now
recommend you not to delay. I also recom-
mend your destroying the battery now erect-
ing, taking the guns off the island, and desist-
ing from training the inhabitants to arms,
which can only tend at present to their
disadvantage, they being still the subjects
of our enemies, therefore not liable to be
attacked by those, and may hereafter enable
them to turn against Great Britain. Nor
can I conceive from the statement you have
made of their attachment to you, that such
measures are at all necessary, either for the
safety of your person or property.-Having
thus, according to my duty, acquainted you
with my sentiments, and pointed out the
line of conduct that I conceive you, as a
British subject, ought to adopt, I shall not
interfere farther than by requesting to be
acquainted with your future intentions, for
LETTER FROM CAPTAIN JONES. 89
the information of the right honorable the
lords commissioners of the admiralty. You
are wrong in supposing that I wish to cast
any stain upon your character, either as an
Englishman or a man of honor, nor can I
believe you would intentionally commit an
act which would reflect disgrace upon the
British government. I am also far from
doubting the word of Mr. Jorgensen, or from
throwing any reflections either on his former
situation, his character, or conduct; but his
not possessing any written document to cer-
tify that he has permission from government
to be on this island, and his having appeared
in Havnfiord Bay, on board his Majesty's
ship under my command, in the undress
uniform of a post captain, oblige me to insist
on his immediate return to Great Britain,
unless you can satisfy me you have permis-
sion to bring him here.
I am, SIR,
Your most obedient and humble Servant,
ALEXANDER Jones,
Captain of His Majesty's Sloop, Talbot.
To Samuel Phelps, Esq., English Merchant,
Reikevig, Iceland,
go
APPENDIX. B.
N° 7.
COPY OF A LETTER
FROM MR. PHELPS TO CAPTAIN JONES.
SIR,
Reikevig, August 23rd, 1809.
The convention or agreement, which we
entered into yesterday with the chief justice
and the bailiff of this island, will, perhaps,
preclude the necessity of my giving you a
circumstantial account of every particular and
minute transaction which has taken place
here since my arrival, of which I have kept
a regular journal, for the purpose of laying
the same before his Majesty's ministers,
together with original documents. The
accounts and papers are voluminous, and
it would take a considerable time to copy
them it was, moreover, impossible to do
it in the time required by your letter of the
20th instant. The journal papers and docu-
ments I hold are necessary for my justifica-
tion, and it may be of considerable utility to
me to retain them; but, as I am totally un-
acquainted with the laws and articles of war
LETTER FROM MR. PHELPS.
91
1
(farther than what I learn from having read
the Margaret and Anne's letters of marque),
I will readily deliver up all these papers and
journal to you, if you will give me an order
so to do, and a receipt for the same; as will
also Captain Liston his journal and papers.—
I must, however, beg leave to correct some
errors or mistakes, which appear to exist,
according to your letter of the 19th instant.
-As to my having declined giving you a
statement of my transactions here, this I
certainly did not intend; but, as the charges
made against me from common report only,
as stated in the first conversation I had the
honor to hold with you, were of a serious
nature, and such as I knew to be unjust and
untrue, I wished the whole transactions and
complaints to be stated in writing, to pre-
vent misinterpretation. Perhaps this request
of mine was not correct or consistent with the
respect due to a British officer; if so, I can
assure you no such disrespect was intended.-
I took the liberty of writing you a letter (in
haste) dated the 16th, and another the 17th
instant. Of the first I had not time to take
an exact copy; but it appears by your letter
of the 19th instant, that some words in one
92
APPENDIX. B.
particular passage were left out, which were
intended by me to have been added. I refer
you to the public proclamations, to prove to
you that the error in my letter proceeded
from the hurry of writing: therefore I must
beg leave to correct it.-You state in your
letter of the 19th instant, that I have not
only in your opinion transgressed the laws of
Great Britain, but of all nations, by assuming
an authority which no one has a right to
assume, namely, that of declaring the island
"free, neutral, and independent:" here should
have been added, "of Denmark;" for so the
proclamation is translated to me.-The only
hostility I have committed is against the
Danes. -You will find, Sir, by every true
information you can obtain on shore, that I
have never in any respect interfered in the
government or change of government here,
farther than by giving my advice and consent
to Mr. Jorgensen in matters in which my trade
was concerned, or in measures that I was
bound to pursue, according to the instructions
in the letters of marque, or to instruct Captain
Liston so to do; namely, not to compromise.
in any manner with our enemies. As far
as I have gone, I shall not have the business
LETTER FROM MR. PHELPS.
93
to retract, whatever may be the consequence
to me, and sure am I no one proof or docu-
ment can appear to shew that I have in any
way interfered in the government; but I
beg leave briefly to state to you how far I
have been concerned, and to add at the same
time that, not understanding the Danish
language, it is possible that I may in some
instances have been deceived.-In January
last, myself and my partners sent a cargo
of provisions and other necessaries under a
British licence, to relieve the inhabitants of
Iceland. The cargo was landed, but, through
the artifice and intrigue of the Danes,
instead of returning a cargo of Iceland
produce, as the licence specified, the vessel
was returned in ballast with stones which
our agent was obliged to pay for, although
the then constituted Danish authorities had
granted us a free trade, and the warehouses
were full of Iceland goods. Severe procla-
mations were also afterwards published to
obstruct our trade, all of which I shall take
home.-On finding that the same conduct
prevailed on my arrival here with another
cargo on the 21st of June last, and that I
94
APPENDIX. B.
must again return in ballast, unless I pursued
strong measures, I ventured to make Count
Tramp prisoner, partly on this account, and
partly on hearing that he had come here.
under a fictitious name and character. Being
requested by many of the native inhabitants
to issue some proclamations, to satisfy the
minds of the people, and being also requested
and entreated by them to remove the Danes
from the island, who had reduced them to
the greatest state of misery, I declined
interfering, or taking any part in the govern-
ment, and refused to hoist the English flag,
not knowing that I should be correct in
so doing, until the will of his Majesty's
ministers could be known.-Upon farther
applications being sent to me, which ex-
pressed the wishes of the people that Mr.
Jorgensen would stand forward to protect
the island and the natives against the Danes,
I certainly acquiesced, and gave him my
concurrence and advice to act as the natives
thought best, unless some of them would
take the management of the island (ad in-
terim) till the will of the British govern-
ment could be known; and I agreed that
די
LETTER FROM MR. PHELPS.
95
the island should be declared free and in-
dependent of Denmark, but only in suspen-
sion, until his Majesty's pleasure could be
known. I have in no other respect inter-
fered in the government here, farther than
in protecting our property and persons. It
has also been impossible for me to transmit
an account of these transactions before to
England, as there have been no vessels fit
for the navigation of these seas; of which
you can easily assure yourself. You will
find, Sir, that there are two parties in this
island; the Danish party and the Icelandic,
or English, party. I hope I have listened
to and favored that party which will be
most approved of by his Majesty's ministers;
but, if it should not prove to be so, I have
erred unintentionally.
I have the honor to be,
SIR,
Your most obedient and humble Servant,
To the Honorable Alexander Jones,
Captain of His Majesty's Ship
Talbot, Reikevig Harbor.
SAMUEL PHelps.
96
APPENDIX. B.
1
N° 8.
COPY OF A LETTER
FROM THE HONORABLE CAPTAIN JONES TO
REAR-ADMIRAL SIR EDWARD NEAGLE, COM-
MANDER IN CHIEF, &c., &c., &c.
SIR,
His Majesty's Sloop, Talbot, Reikevig Bay,
Iceland, August 23rd, 1809.
I have to acquaint you that, owing to
extremely bad weather, I had no communi-
cation with this island until the 5th of
August, when I anchored for a few hours in
Oreback Bay. I was there informed that
there were three English vessels at this place
and that an English merchant had become
governor of the island. On the 8th I an-
chored in Havnfiord Bay to water, when I
learned that Mr. Phelps, an English mer-
chant, and the owner of the Margaret and
Anne letter of marque, had made Count
Tramp, the Danish governor of the island,
prisoner, and that Mr. Jorgensen (a Danish
gentleman brought from England by Mr.
Phelps) had taken upon him the government
of the island; but that it was not satisfactory
LETTER FROM CAPTAIN JONES.
97
to the inhabitants, in consequence of his
former situations in life. I came here on
the 14th from Havnfiord, for the purpose of
being better informed upon this subject, as
well as for the sake of repairing my rigging.
On entering the harbor I found at anchor
the Margaret and Anne privateer with two
or three other vessels, and saw a blue flag,
with three white fish in the upper quarter,
flying over the town: this I was told was
the new Iceland colors. Count Tramp, who
was a prisoner on board the privateer, re-
quested to have an interview with me, during
which he stated that he had been extremely
ill used, and in a manner that was contrary
to the laws of nations; that Mr. Jorgensen
was a traitor to his own country (Denmark);
that he had first served Great Britain; then
fought against it; and was now, by hoisting
the above-mentioned flag, and by declaring
the island free, neutral, and independent, and
at peace with all nations, acting in rebellion
to both. I therefore thought it necessary to
inquire of Mr. Phelps by what authority he
acted. That gentleman having first declined
to give any explanation to me, and after-
VOL. II.
H
98
APPENDIX. B.
wards sent me the enclosed written statement
of his transactions, together with my being
informed by Mr. Jorgensen himself that he
had been an apprentice on board an English
collier, served as a midshipman in the English
navy, then commanded the Admiral Juul
Danish privateer, which was captured by his
Majesty's sloop Sappho, that he was not ex-
changed, neither had he signed any parole of
honor as a prisoner of war, but was set at
liberty in London without any written docu-
ments all these circumstances considered, I
deemed it my duty to prevent his being left
alone on the island at the head of a government
of his own formation, and have consequently
taken those steps to obviate it, which to the
best of my opinion and that of my officers
would be right and most approved of by go-
vernment. Enclosed I send copies of my an-
swer and order to Mr. Phelps, in consequence
of the before-mentioned statement, also every
other document in my power to obtain, hoping
they will give every information and expla-
nation necessary on the subject. Not con-
sidering myself authorised to interfere with
the imprisonment of Count Tramp, nor
LETTER FROM CAPTAIN JONES. 99
thinking it would be proper under the pre-
sent circumstances to hoist the British colors
on the island without first informing you;
at the request of Mr. Phelps, I have restored
the former government to the two men next
in rank on the island to Count Tramp. In
order to secure the quick and safe delivery
of this intelligence, I have sent in the Mar-
garet and Anne Lieutenant Stewart of his
Majesty's ship under my command, who is
acquainted with all the circumstances, and
charged with the delivery of the new Icelan-
dic flag to you.
I have the honor to be,
SIR, &c.,
ALEXANDER JONES.
Rear-Admiral Sir Edward Neagle,
Commander in Chief, &c.,&c.,&c.,
Leith.
N° 9.
COPY OF AN AGREEMENT
Between His Royal Danish Majesty's Counsellor of State
and Chief Justice of Iceland, and His Danish Majesty's
Bailiff in the Western County of the said Island on the
100
APPENDIX. B.
one part, and the Honorable Alexander Jones, Captain
of His British Majesty's Sloop of War, Talbot, and
Samuel Phelps of the City of London, Esq., on the
other part.
ARTICLES.
1. All proclamations, laws, appointments,
&c., made by Mr. Jorgen Jorgensen, since
his arrival in this country, are to be abolished
and totally null and void, from the moment
this agreement is signed.
2. The former government is to be per-
fectly restored, and the chief command to
devolve upon the said chief justice of Ice-
land, and the said bailiff of the western
county of Iceland, native Icelanders, they
being the next in power in the island to
Count Tramp.
3. All officers under the Danish govern-
ment are at liberty to return to their offices,
4. The government shall be responsible
for the protection of all British subjects and
the property that now is and may be on the
island, and all transgressions, thefts, and
personal assaults, committed against British
}
FINAL AGREEMENT.
101
subjects or their property, shall be punished
with the same rigor, and according to the
same laws, as if the property belonged to
the natives.
5. No battery is to be erected; and the
one now at Reikevig is to be destroyed. No
militia is to be raised in the island, nor the
country in any way to be fortified or armed.
6. All officers or other persons either
armed or unarmed, who, during the late
events, have taken part with Mr. Jorgen
Jorgensen, shall no longer be in employ-
ment, but their persons and property in
every respect (whosoever or of whatever
nation they may be) shall be respected and
protected the same as other persons and
natives.-The convention between Count
Tramp and Captain Nott, of the 16th of
June last, shall be in full force, and be
published throughout this country without
delay, together with this agreement.
7. All merchants' houses which are shut
up in this country shall immediately be
opened and the merchants of the said island
1
102
APPENDIX. B.
be permitted to continue or carry on their
trade as formerly.
8. All Danish property and public money
is to be restored.
Witness our hands and seals this twenty-
second day of August, one thousand
eight hundred and nine.
(Signed)
ALEXANDER JONES.
SAMUEL PHElps.
MAGNUS STEPHENSEN.
STEPHEN STEPHENSEN.
END OF APPENDIX. B.
APPENDIX. C.
ACCOUNT OF HECLA;
WITH
SOME PARTICULARS OF OTHER REMARKABLE
VOLCANIC MOUNTAINS,
IN ICELAND.
APPENDIX. C.
ACCOUNT OF HECLA,
&c. &c.
THERE
HERE is scarcely a part of this great island
but bears the most striking marks of the
effects of subterraneous fires, though the more
dreadful eruptions of later years have been
confined to its southern and eastern quarters.
Not only in the loftiest mountains, but even
in the plains and vallies, the remains of
extinguished craters arrest the attention of
the traveller, and the tracts of lava which he
frequently meets with are so extensive, that
it not uncommonly happens that an Ice-
landic summer's day, however considerable
its length, does not allow sufficient time to
106
APPENDIX. C.
traverse one of them in its greatest extent.
Among the numerous volcanoes, Hecla, from
the frequency of its fires, from its vicinity
to the most populous part of the island,
and from its situation that renders it visi-
ble to ships sailing to Greenland and North
America, has been by far the most celebrated
among foreign countries; nor does it seem
to have been considered of less importance
at home, having attracted to such a degree
the notice of the native historians, that its
several eruptions, subsequently to the coloni-
zation of the island (for it is supposed that
many had taken place previously), have been
inserted in the chronicles of the country.
Upon this subject, however, the different
annalists are far from being agreed, some,
according to Povelsen and Olafsen, who
speak only of the principal ones, mentioning
no more than eleven, and others only six-
teen; while these authors say that, after the
most attentive researches, they can speak with
confidence to twenty-two, without reckon-
ing several, which, though enumerated by
other writers, they regard as uncertain, think-
ing that the same eruption may have been
counted more than once, from its having
VOLCANOES.
107
lasted above a year, or its having begun in
winter and ceased the following spring; and
also without including the less important
discharges, that have not issued from the
volcano itself, but from some of the hillocks
or beds of lava about it; though these in
reality have a right to be included, as having
originated from Hecla, whose fire passing
through subterraneous channels has found
vent in different places. Leaving this ques-
tion undecided, I confine myself to Arngrim
Jonas, who, in his Brevis Commentarius de
Islandia *, relates the first to have taken
,
* This account does not exactly agree with that given
by Von Troil, who mentions eruptions of Hecla, in
1374, 1390, and 1436.-The dates of the eruptions of
Ætna and Vesuvius have also been recorded, and, in the
uncertainty of their periods, resemble what I find re-
specting Hecla.-They are as follows:
Mount Ætna-before the christian æra, four ;—in the
years 3325, 3538, 3554, 3843.-After Christ twenty-
seven-1175, 1285, 1321, 1323, 1329, 1408, 1530,
1536, 1537, 1540, 1545, 1545, 1554, 1556, 1566, 1579,
1614, 1634, 1636, 1643, 1669, 1682, 1689, 1692, 1747,
1755, 1766.
Mount Vesuvius;-after Christ-79, 203, 472, 512,
685, 993, 1036, 1043, 1048, 1136, 1506, 1538, (the
108
APPENDIX. C.
place A. D. 1104; and to have been succeeded
by others in the years 1137, 1222, 1300, 1341,
1362, and 1389, after which the mountain
is said to have remained quiet till 1538, and
then again for the space of eighty-one years,
when, in 1619, fresh matter was vomited
forth; and also in 1636, 1693, and 1766;
the latter eruption lasting, without intermis-
sion, from the 15th of April till the 7th of
September. Flames, but unattended with
lava, appeared in 1771 and 1772, since which
period to the latter end of the year, 1810,
neither fire nor smoke has been perceived.
Having already, in my journal (vol. i.
page 194) stated the circumstances which
prevented me from reaching Hecla, it is
necessarily out of my power to give an ac-
count of the state of the mountain from
my own actual observation; but, if I may
be allowed to judge from the information
I received in the neighborhood, I had less
reason than might be imagined to regret my
eruption at Puzzole), 1631, 1660, 1682, 1694, 1701
1704, 1712, 1717, 1730, 1737, 1751, 1754, 1760, 1766,
1767, 1770, 1771.-Sir William Hamilton's Campi Phle-
græi, p. 51.
VOLCANOES.
109
disappointment; the covering of snow, that
in many seasons entirely envelopes the sum-
mit, having lain particularly thick during the
summer of 1809, and so completely concealed
every thing that might be looked upon as re-
markable, that the prosecution of my jour-
ney would but have added to my fatigue
without a chance of the success I wished
for. Sir Joseph Banks, however, and his
party, were more fortunate, and an account
of their expedition has been published by
Von Troil, whose remarks on Hecla are so
familiar to the English reader, that the
mountain may be considered as well known.
At the same time, as it is one of those
things that are reckoned most wonderful in
Iceland, I am unwilling to pass it in silence,
but shall endeavor, by means of extracts
from the less generally known publication of
Povelsen and Olafsen, aided by some notes
made from Sir Joseph Banks' manuscripts,
to compensate for what I have not in my
power to relate in my own journal.
Our Icelandic travellers, on their excur-
sion to Hecla, stopped at the village of
Selsund situated in the vicinity of the moun-
110
APPENDIX. C.
tain, where the proprietor of the farm urged
them to accept him for their guide, he
being acquainted with the country all around
the volcano, though he had never actually
reached even its foot. The whole of the
inhabitants who reside in the neighborhood
consider it as the height of temerity for any
one to endeavour to climb the mountain :
in order, therefore, to deter these gentlemen
from being rash enough to make the at-
tempt, they represented a variety of super-
natural obstacles, which, having, from time
immemorial, been handed down from father
to son, were perhaps as devoutly believed
as they were seriously related, telling, among
other things that were also urged to me,
how Hecla is guarded by a number of
strange black birds resembling crows, but
armed with beaks of iron, with which they
would receive in a very ungracious manner
any man that might presume to infringe
upon their territory. The country for two
leagues around Hecla they found wholly
destitute of vegetation, the soil consisting of
scoria, pumice, and red and black cinders,
which, by the breaking out of the subter-
raneous fires, were here and there raised
VOLCANOES.
111
into numerous little hills and eminences, in-
creasing in size the nearer they approached
the mountain. The principal one, which
is called Raud-oldur*, is of an oblong
form, with an opening in its summit of an
hundred and forty-four feet in depth, and
eight hundred and forty feet in circum-
ference: it consists entirely of small red
shining stones, that have evidently been in
a state of liquefaction. On reaching Hecla,
the difficulty of proceeding was increased,
especially when it became necessary to travel
over the heaps of lava that have flowed from
the volcano, and formed round the base of
the mountain a sort of rampart from forty to
seventy feet in height, consisting of masses
* "We arrived (September 24, 1772) at a green spot
under Graufel-hraun where we pitched our tents and
proceeded to a crater which has an opening of half a
mile in circumference, but its western side is destroyed
by the eruption. The hraun lies as if it came from this
crater, and the tufa and ashes which formerly made a
part of its western side are still seen among it. The
lower part and remaining walls are composed of nothing
but ashes, cinders, and pieces of lava in various states.
Its name is Röd-Oldur.-The scene of desolation all
around is almost inconceivable."-Sir Joseph Banks'
Manuscript Journal.
;
112
APPENDIX. c.
of melted stone. In this spot, which appears
to be the place alluded to by Von Troil, where
he speaks of the hill as being surrounded with
lofty glazed walls, and filled with high glazed
cliffs not to be compared to any thing he
ever saw before, our travellers found it neces-
sary to leave their horses; and their guide,
under the pretence that he was suddenly
attacked with a head-ache, excused himself
from attending them farther on their journey.
The ridge of lava was climbed with extreme
difficulty, for the stones of which it was
composed lay detached, and there were so
many deep holes between them, that it was
necessary to use the greatest caution in walk-
ing to prevent accidents. The ground shortly
after becoming more solid, their road was
consequently materially improved, and they
began their ascent on the western side, where
the continual cracking of the rock under
their feet at first caused them some uneasi-
ness, till, upon more attentive observation,
they found that the whole mountain itself
was reduced to a mere pumice-stone, lying
in horizontal strata of moderate thickness,
every where full of fissures; and hence, they
observe, may be formed some idea of the
VOLCANOES.
113
intensity of the fire, whereby an immense
mountain has been so far consumed that all
the rocks which compose it will crumble
into ashes, if the volcano that has produced
such an effect should again for a while
resume its operations. Contrary to their
expectations, they continued to ascend with-
out meeting with any obstacle, passing over a
continued series of sloping terraces, of which
they reckoned seven before they reached the
summit. The sides of the hill they found
from top to bottom deeply scarred with ra-
vines formed originally by the torrents of
lava, but now serving as beds for the winter
cataracts. Among other curious minerals
that they met with on their way, they
gathered some that they considered as deci-
sive of the fact of Hecla having occasionally
thrown out water as well as fire; and they
*
* The discharge of water from volcanoes, as well
as fire, is by no means unusual. Sir William Hamilton,
who most ingeniously endeavors to account for some of
the most striking appearances of the globe from this cir-
cumstance, considers the water as merely rain that has
been deposited in the caverns, contrary, as he says, to
the generally received opinion that it arises from a con-
nection between the mountains and the sea.
He men-
VOL. II.
I
114
APPENDIX. C.
are from this led to notice an extraordinary
matter, of which they do not appear them-
selves to have seen any symptoms, that so
great a quantity of salt* has been found
tions (Campi Phlegræi, p. 27) on this subject, that “it
is well attested, that in the great eruption of Vesuvius,
A. D. 1631, several towns, among which were Portici
and Torre del Greco, were destroyed by a torrent of
boiling water having burst out of the mountain with the
lava, by which thousands of lives were lost."
*This, as they say, (tom. iii. p. 35.) r ne contribue
pas peu à confirmer l' opinion de la connexion probable
entre la mer et les volcans, tant de ceux qui vomissent
des matières embraseés, que de ceux qui vomissent de
l'eau alternativement. On peut raisonnablement présu-
mer ces communications entre la mer, les volcans, et les
glaciers de la partie orientale, en raison de leur proxi-
mité de la mer et la profondeur de leurs racines; ces
montagnes vomissent en effet une bien plus grande
quantité d'eau que la fonte des glaces ne pourrait pro-
duire, et on a même remarqué un goût salin á leurs
eaux. On objectera peut-être, à l'égard du mont Hecla,
qu'il peut se trouver dans ses entrailles quantité
de sel de roche; mais ses entrailles vont jusqu'au
niveau de la mer; d'ailleurs indépendamment de l'opinion
généralement accréditée de tant de savans de tous les pays,
de la connexion secrète qu'il y a entre l'Etna en Sicile et
l'Hecla, puisque ces deux volcans ont si souvent brûlés
en même temps, on verra nombre d'exemples curieux
qui prouvent la sympathie qu'il y a entre l'Hecla, lors
VOLCANOES.
115
after its eruptions, as has
load a number of horses.
been sufficient to
On the night of
the 19th of June, they at length approached
the summit, and found themselves on the
edge of the crater, in a place covered with ice
and snow; yet not of such a nature as that
of the glaciers, since it generally melts away
in the summer months, excepting only what
de ses éruptions, et les autres volcans de l'Islande plus
éloignés de lui qu'il ne l'est de la mer, et même les plus
éloignés."—What might be considered as still farther
proving the connection between volcanoes and the ocean
is, that Ætna is related by Seneca in his second book
Naturalium Quæstionum to have thrown out a quantity
of burning sand; so that" involutus est dies pulvere,
populosque subita nox terruit;" but probably that
philosopher meant nothing more by sand than minute
particles of pulverized matter, a quantity of which,
resembling gunpowder, was lately shewn me by the
Countess of Gosford, picked up during the last eruption
of the same mountain (March, 1809), in the very
streets of Messina, fifty miles distant in a straight line,
where it fell in such quantities that several cart-loads
might have been collected.-The most extraordinary
proof of the connection between volcanoes and subter-
raneous waters seems to be afforded by Humboldt, who,
in the zoological part of his travels, speaks of the vol-
canoes of Quito casting out innumerable quantities of
a species of fish that is found in the streams that run
into the sides of the mountains.
116
APPENDIX. C.
lies in the hollows and clefts; for Hecla is
to be classed among the Icelandic mountains
of inferior height, rising to no greater eleva-
tion than five thousand feet above the level
of the sea.
What rendered their walk more
uncomfortable was that a flight of snow had
recently fallen, the depth of which was not
less than a foot and half. Through this they
had a long and toilsome passage, before they at
last found themselves arrived at the object of
their journey, the summit of Mount Hecla*,
where the most dreary solitude and silence the
* Sir Joseph Banks thus describes his ascent of the
same hill: "we ascended Mount Hecla with the wind
blowing against us so violently that we could with
difficulty proceed. The frost too was lying upon the
ground, and the cold extremely severe. We ourselves
were covered with ice in such a manner that our clothes
resembled buckram. On reaching the summit of the
first peak, we here and there remarked places were the
snow had been melted, and a little heat was arising
from them, and it was by one of these that we rested to
observe the barometer, which was 24. 838. Th. 27. The
water we had with us was all frozen. Doctor Lind filled
his wind-machine with warm water: it rose to 1..6 and
then froze into spiculæ, so that we could not make ob-
servations any longer. We thought we had arrived at
the highest peak, but soon saw one above us, towards
which we hastened. Doctor Solander remained with an
VOLCANOES.
117
most profound reigned all around them, and
they could discover no traces either of fissures
in the rock or falls of water, and still less of hot
springs or smoke or fire. Though now mid-
night, it was as bright as day, so that they
enjoyed an immensely extensive prospect;
looking over all the glaciers to the east,
beyond which in the distance towered, like
a great castle, the ancient volcano, of Hoer-
dabreid; while to the north they had a view
of all the lofty hills of that quarter, and of a
number of lakes of which they could not learn
the names. Finding nothing on the top of
Icelander in the intermediate valley; the rest of us con-
tinued our route to the summit of the peak, which we
found intensely cold; but on the highest point was a
spot of three yards in breadth, whence there proceeded
so much heat and steam that we could not bear to sit
down upon it.-H. 9..25. Bar. 24,722. Th. 38. The
last eruption of 1766 broke out on a sudden attended by
an earthquake. A south wind carried a quantity of
ashes to Holum, a distance of an hundred and eighty
miles! Horses were so alarmed as to run about till
they dropped down through fatigue, and the people
who lived near the mountain lost their cattle, which
were either choked with ashes or starved before they
could be removed to grass. Some lingered for a year,
and on being opened their stomachs were found to be
full of ashes.”—Sir Joseph Banks' MS. Journal.
118
APPENDIX. C.
Hecla to induce them to prolong their stay,
they descended on the west side by a deep
ravine, which, commencing at the summit of
the mountain and continuing to its very base,
appears evidently to have been the bed of a
current of lava, and was most probably
formed at the time of the eruption of 1300;
since the annals of the country relate that at
that period Hecla was rent from the top to
the bottom. This cavity has now only the
appearance of a deep valley, but it is never-
theless certain, they say, that it was orignally
open to the very centre of the volcano, but
was choked up by the falling in of stones
and rocks, which forced their way down-
wards on the cessation of the eruption, when
the subterraneous fires ceased to lend the
earth unnatural strength. Many large masses
of rock thrown from the volcano still hang
upon the edges of the ravine, where they
were cast by the eruption; but far greater
heaps of melted and burnt substances are
met with at the bottom of this singular and
immense chasm.-Thus much for the gene-
ral and exterior conformation of Hecla. The
effects of its subterraneous fires, mischievous
as they have been, are small compared to
VOLCANOES.
119
those of other mountains; for which reason
I shall proceed to a short description of two
or three that have been the most remarkable
in this respect.
Krabla, in the north-eastern part of the
island, vomited forth great rivers of burning
and melted matter between the years 1724
and 1730, one of which was four miles and
a half in width and nine in length; it flowed
into the adjoining lake, Myvatn, where it
continued to burn like oil for many days,
filling the lake, drying up its waters, and
destroying the whole of the fish. Another
torrent overflowed the presbytery of Reyk-
elid, which it so completely buried as not to
have left a vestige of the place. These floods
of fire are called by the natives Stenaa (stone-
flood), and afforded, during the day, a blue
flame, resembling that of sulphur; but the
smoke, which arose from all parts, in a
great measure hindered it from being seen.
During the night the whole extent of the
horizon was illuminated, and the higher
regions of the atmosphere became red.
Balls of fire were hurled from the stenaa as
well as from the burning mountain, and
120
APPENDIX. C.
were the means, together with the surround-
ing redness of the atmosphere, of announcing
to the inhabitants at a considerable distance
the dreadful disaster.
Katlegiaa in the southern part of the
island ejected a great torrent of water on the
17th of October, 1755, which inundated an
extent of country fifteen miles long and
twelve wide, sweeping away in its impetuous
course numerous masses of ice, to which
were attached pieces of rock of great size.
Whilst the minds of the natives were
occupied in the reflection of the dreadful
consequences that were likely to ensue from
this extraordinary phænomenon, as well as
from the accompanying earthquake, a noise
was heard like that of thunder, when imme-
diately a rapid discharge of fire and water
took place alternately from the mountain,
attended by most frightful and horrible
roarings, which continued, with but slight
intermission, during the whole of the first
day; at night the neighboring districts were
illuminated by flames, and balls of fire were
cast to a great height in the air, so that
heaven and earth seemed to be equally in
VOLCANOES.
121
a state of conflagration. On the 19th the
column of smoke appeared black in the day,
but filled with balls and sparks of fire, which
in the night cast a strong light over the
whole of Myrdal Syssel, whilst the country
situated to the eastward of that district was
in darkness both day and night. All the
syssels in that direction were covered with
black sand and cinders, and loud subterra-
neous noises were heard even as far as Guld-
bringue and Kiosar Syssels (eighty or ninety
miles distant) and ashes fell like rain in the
Ferroe Islands, a distance of three hundred
miles!
But the most dreadful volcanic eruption,
which the annals of Iceland have yet re-
corded, took place so late as the year 1783.
This was in the south-eastern part of the
island, in the district, called Skaptefield's
Syssel, and so tremendous was it, that I
have been induced here to publish a transla-
tion of a very sensible pamphlet respecting
it, printed by the Etatsroed Stephensen,
who was an eye witness of the calamity;
feeling that such an event ought to be re-
corded in the British language, and being
122
APPENDIX. C.
persuaded that my readers will be obliged
to me for here furnishing them with it.
Without further apology, therefore, or pre-
face, I proceed to say, that the original of
the following Account of the Volcanic Erup-
tion in Skaptefield's Syssel was published at
Copenhagen, in the Danish language, in the
year 1785, under the title of Kort Beskri-
velse over den nye Vulcans Ildsprudning i
Vester-Skaptefield's Syssel paa Island i
aaret, 1783.* Its author, Mr. Magnus Ste-
phensen, the present Etatsroed of Iceland,
upon the intelligence of the eruption reaching
Denmark, where he then was, received in-
structions from the king to proceed to Ice-
land, in company with Mr. Hans Christopher
Diderich Victor de Levetzen, for the pur-
* I have, in the first edition of my Tour (p. 408),
been led into an error in consequence of Mr. Pennant's
stating, that his account of the eruption of Skaptefield's
Syssel was translated from Mr. Stephensen's pamphlet,
(See Introduction to Artic Zoology, p. cccxxi.), whereas
I have since been informed that the original was the
performance of S. M. Holme, upon the same subject.
The title of the book is, Om Jordbranden paa island i
aaret, 1783. It was published in Copenhagen, in 1784,
and is noticed in a manner not very creditable in the
course of Mr. Stephensen's account.
VOLCANOES.
123
pose
of seeing that such measures were put
into effect as were deemed most expedient
for the safety of the sufferers. Mr. Stephen-
sen was besides more particularly charged
with a commission to collect all possible
information respecting the eruption, the
phænomena with which it was attended,
and its effects; to survey, himself, the va-
rious currents of lava, and, if possible, the
source of the volcano, as well as to search
for any mineral substances which were likely
to be useful in the arts. Each of the gen-
tlemen above mentioned, on his return to
Copenhagen, delivered in an account of the
observations made during the journies, which
were submitted to his Danish Majesty, who
was pleased not only to pay the whole ex-
pences of their tour, and allow them a con-
siderable gratuity, but farther to grant to
Mr. Stephensen the copyright of his publi-
cation.
Such is the substance of the author's
Address to the Reader, which forms a
sort of introduction to the work. The re-
maining part of the publication I have had
124
APPENDIX. c.
1
translated with all possible fidelity (in part
through the kindness of Mr. Jorgensen), and
have given it, as nearly as possible, accord-
ing to the literal sense and meaning of the
author.
§ I.
"Although no volcanic eruption in Ice-
land was ever attended with more lament-
damage
The extent of the able consequences than that
which took place in the year
1783, yet its immediate effects were not
greater or more destructive than many of the
former ones. For example, let us only con-
sider what happened in the year 1300, and
let us reflect on the long chain of events of
which our annals give an account, during
the whole of the 14th century, especially in
the years 1341, 1350, 1357, 1360, and
1390 *, and on the damage sustained in
* See different annals in Legati Magnæani Bibl. in
the Royal Observatory, especially in No. 246, among
the folios, and No. 407, 411, 418, 421, 425, 427, and
428, among the quartos. See also Annales Islandorum
reg. among Langebock's Scriptores rerum Danic, medii
avi. Tom. 111. p. 134 and 135.
VOLCANOES.
125
one morning, when Hecla burned in Bishop
Gottsvin's time, about 1436 *. If these be
compared with the mischief done in 1783,
the difference will appear quite evident: yet
it is seriously to be lamented that the da-
mage should reach one of the finest and
most beautiful parts of the country, formerly
supporting a number of people, who are now
reduced to a state of misery and ruin. How-
ever, praise be to God, the injury is not
nearly so extensive as many erroneous reports
have led people to believe.
The state of the
weather in the
spring of 1783.
§ II.
A delightful spring succeeded
an unusually mild winter in
Iceland, in the year, 1783. Clear, calm, and
warm weather, with sunshine, were only
interrupted by soft breezes from the south,
mingled with abundant showers of rain.
The pastures were at an early period seen
dressed in a green and luxuriant vegetation,
and, in the month of May, adorned with
many herbs and flowers in their freshest
* See No. 213 folio, and 407 quarto, in Leg. Magn.
Bibl.
126
APPENDIX. C.
vigour. The greatest benefit was antici-
pated from the cattle, which had become
sleek and strong after so mild a winter and
spring, and every one rejoiced at the pros-
pect of a fruitful summer and an abundant
harvest. But all these happy illusions fled
with the month of May.
The commence-
ment of the
Eruption.
§ III.
Towards the latter end of May
a bluish and light smoke, or fog,
was seen floating along the surface of the
earth, and attracted the notice of several well-
informed people: yet no one had the smal-
lest idea of the approaching evil till strong
earthquakes were perceived and felt over the
whole of Skaptefield's Syssel on the 1st of
June. These became daily more terrible,
especially during the mornings and evenings,
and at last on the 8th of June, the first day
of Whitsuntide, they announced the most
violent commotions in the bowels of the
earth.
། རག་ཝ
At eight in the morning the weather was
still fine and clear, but towards nine a dark
and black bank of smoke arose in the north,
VOLCANOES.
127
and at length extended itself over the district
called Sida. This bank could not at first
be seen from the farm-houses that were
pleasantly situated at the foot of a lofty
and closely-connected range of mountains,
stretching for the most part from east to
west, nor could the inhabitants distinguish
it till it was quite near, and immediately
over Sida, but several persons who were
proceeding from the district Landbrot, situ-
ated a little to the south of the place just
mentioned, to Kirkebai-cloister church, ob-
served a great number of pillars of smoke
arise from among the wild mountains in
the north, and in a little time gather them-
selves together and form the large black
bank. On the nearer approach of this,
Sida became involved in darkness, and, when
the bank was perpendicularly over it, an im-
mense quantity of sand and ashes, much
resembling those of burned coals, fell upon
the ground, covering it to the thickness of
an inch. Intermixed with these substances
was one of a grey, shining, and hard nature,
which will hereafter be more fully described.
A southern wind prevented the farther pro-
gress of the bank on this and the following
128
APPENDIX. C.
1
day, but earthquakes, with heavy peals of
thunder, together with subterraneous noises
and cracklings, continually increased; so
that during the whole day, and long after
the close of it, such noises were heard as
might be compared to the roaring of a num-
ber of cataracts all meeting in the same place,
or something similar to a large kettle boil-
ing over impetuously.
On the 10th of June several fire-spouts
were distinctly seen, for the first time, rising
from among the mountains towards the
north. The black bank became more lofty
every day, while earthquakes, peals of thun-
der, and strange sounds increased.
The river Skaptaa
§ IV.
The Skaptaa was formerly
disappears. a very large river that flowed
between Skaptartunga and Sida, and for the
most part ran parallel with the latter, which
was also divided by this river from the dis-
tricts Landbrot, Medalland, and Skaptar-
tunga. It took its rise from Sida or Skaptar-
Jökelen, an ice-mountain, situated about nine
leagues north of Sida. The stream was very
VOLCANOES.
129
rapid, and the river in many places passable
only in boats. In the spring of 1783, a
vast quantity of fetid water, mixed with
gravel or dust, was observed running down.
the Skaptaa, which was greatly swollen on
the 9th and 10th of June, when, to the
astonishment of every one, it totally dis-
appeared, and was so dried up in less than
twenty-four hours, that people walked across
with ease in such places as were formerly
crossed by travellers with difficulty in boats.
There is, however, still to be observed a
small running stream; but it only arises
from a number of little brooks which, pro-
ceeding from the sides of the mountains,
discharge their waters into the bed of the
Skaptaa. These waters, in Iceland called
Berg-vand (to distinguish them from the
thick and milky Jökel-vand, of which the
Skaptaa and all other rivers deriving their
source from ice-mountains consist), were
quite clear and pellucid. So remarkable a
phænomenon as the drying up of the Skap-
taa, was fully accounted for on the ensuing
day, the 12th of June, when a dreadful fire-
stream came pouring down with the greatest
impetuosity, like a foaming sea, into the
VOL. II.
K
130
APPENDIX. C.
Skaptaa. This river every where ran through
deep vallies and between lofty cliffs, which
were in many parts from four to five hund-
red or even six hundred feet high; yet the
fire-stream not only filled up these cavities,
but actually overflowed a considerable tract
of land on both sides. It is only in a
few places that there are still to be seen
above the lava some of the tops of the
highest mountains that formerly enclosed
the Skaptaa.
The state of the
atmosphere
on the 12th of
June.
§ V.
It is impossible to find
language that will convey an
adequate idea of the horrible circumstances
that accompanied the first eruption, and
made this day peculiarly dreadful.-A dark
and dismal bank arising in the north-west
and pouring forth ashes, sand, brimstone,
and the hard greyish substance before al-
luded to.-An intolerably stinking and suf-
focating smoke, concealing the face of the
sun and absorbing its brilliant and beneficent
rays.-Seldom could this luminary be per-
ceived through the thick and sulphureous
steam, and when it now and then became
VOLCANOES.
131
visible it had the appearance of a globe of
a gloomy and blood-red color.-Constant
shocks of earthquakes, innumerable fire-
spouts in the north, a dreadful foaming
stream of fire rushing down into the Skap-
taa, indescribable sounds in the air, heavy
subterraneous thunders, noises from the
mountains and continued lightnings, filled
every breast with the greatest terror, and
led the poor inhabitants to expect every
moment that heaven and earth would be
annihilated. Nor is this to be wondered at;
for none of the wretched people could tell
how soon they and their property might
become the prey to such powerful and
visible means of destruction.
The progress
§ VI.
The stream of fire, though now
of the fire. running with incredible fury, for
the most part, along the channel of the Skap-
taa, nevertheless, here and there extended
itself over the old lava-tracts on the sides of
the river. Great cracklings and noises were
heard, when many pieces of red-hot lava fell
together into holes in the rivers, where the
water had been previously evaporated by the
132
APPENDIX. C.
}
fire. The current of lava had in a single day,
before the evening of the 12th, proceeded
as far as the farm Aa, in Sida, where it over-
flowed houses, enclosures, pasture-lands, and
carried every thing away before it. It had
also in another direction done much damage
to the farm Buland, and destroyed Svartanup
and Litlanes. On the western side the fire
had already extended itself as far as the
farms Svinadal and Hvaam, where much
injury had been sustained. The same was
the case with Skaptardal, on the eastern
side.
Y
According to all appearances it might rea-
sonably have been expected that the im-
mense masses of lava, rushing down like
melted metal from out the Skaptaa, with
such prodigious force and velocity, would
at once have over-run Medalland, which lay
just beneath, and consequently have done
infinite mischief; but at this very place the
fire was arrested in its progress, on the suc-
ceeding day. A lake, formerly situated in a
place between Skaptardal and Aa, but now in
part filled up with sand from the Skaptaa,
swallowed up a vast quantity of lava that, for
VOLCANOES.
133
several successive days, poured down with a
horrid noise. The fire-stream was conse-
quently very much diminished, but when
the great lake was at length filled, and when
the lava, by continual supplies from its
principal source, had risen to a considerable
height in the valley between Skaptartunga
and Aa, then the stream extended itself
much farther over the lowlands. Fright-
ful noises and sounds that caused the whole
place to tremble, strong claps of thunder
and constant lightnings, prevented the in-
habitants from taking any rest between the
14th and 15th of June. The burning lava
was seen at that time to overflow the farm
Nes, in Skaptartunga, together with the
whole of the adjacent country, and, among
other places, several that were well wooded
between this farm and Skalarstapi, in Sida.
Another arm proceeded eastward from this
place, passing by the farms Skal and Holt,
where it stopped several days; but during
that period burned the wood-lands called
Brandeland, belonging to Kirkebai-cloister.
On the 13th previous, several persons had
endeavored to go up into the mountains in
134
APPENDIX. C.
い
​order to discover the real source of the fire,
and the extent of the mischief that had en-
sued from it in the district; but the thick
smoke issuing from the lava made their at-
tempt quite impracticable. Nothing could
be seen but the stream that had filled up the
Skaptaa, together with innumerable fire-
spouts, which rose out of the river, close by
Ulfarsdal and a long way towards the north.
The fire-stream.
§ VII.
During the ensuing three
days, till the 18th of June, the fire spread
itself slowly towards the south and south-
west, from Skal over the old lava-tracts.
It penetrated the innermost and most con-
cealed crevices, by which means the old
lava was as it were lifted up from its
original bed; and formed into a number of
hills. It did not, however, suffer itself to
be so removed without a strange whistling
kind of noise, caused by the fire forcing the
air from the subterraneous caves through the
cracks and narrow openings. Sand and earth
were only slightly scorched by the fire, and
it had but little effect upon the grey-stone
(graasteen); but, on the contrary, it pene-
VOLCANOES.
135
F
trated into the smallest fissures, and pores of
the old lava, which was soon melted, flowing
with the new, and often taking fire itself.
Thus, when an old piece of lava was melted,
it immediately lighted that with which it was
in contact, and so continued till the whole
was on fire. It is remarkable that, during the
melting of this lava, the uppermost crust
remained in its original state, so that large
pieces might be taken out of the fire-stream
which had the appearance of beaten metal.
The stream forced itself downward, where
it continued its progress, throwing the above-
mentioned crust up into the air or to the
sides of the current, in which situation it
remained for some time, burning in a pure
steady flame. Wherever the fire-stream had
in this manner forced its way under hills
and rocks, they were, by means of the
heated subterraneous vapors, thrown into
the air with prodigious force and a dread-
ful noise. It may easily be conceived what
a horrible crackling must attend the burst-
ing asunder of such immense masses of rock,
many of them from an hundred and twenty
to an hundred and eighty feet in height; but
how much more terrifying must be the fall-
136
APPENDIX. c.
ing of these bodies, when the velocity is so
much accelerated by the vast height to which
they are generally thrown. During these
days the fire increased so much in redness,
and spread itself in so great a degree over
Sidumanna Afrett*, towards the south, on
account of a northerly wind then blowing,
that several farmers residing on the heaths
actually fled with all their cattle and move-
ables, frightened at the immense confla-
gration, which, though at a considerable
distance from them, appeared to be quite
in the vicinity.
New eruption
§ VIII.
On the 18th of June, a most
of lava. dreadful eruption of lava again
broke out among the mountains. In those
places where the Skaptaa had not been quite
filled up, the lava was now observed to rise
to a height, far exceeding that of the steep-
* Afretur, in Icelandic, signifies a wild and un-
inhabited tract of mountains, covered with grass,
where sheep and cattle are sent to fatten in the sum-
mer. The tract here alluded to belonged to the
Sidumen, or Men of Sida, that is, people who resided
on Sida, and therefore it is called Sidumanna afrettur.
VOLCANOES.
137
est mountains that enclosed the river, and
to rush forward over such tracts as had pre-
viously been destroyed, and even so far as the
utmost extremities of the current which had
cooled and become stationary.
In the middle of the lava were to be seen
red-hot rocks, which the stream had torn
from their beds. A thick, white, and suf-
focating steam issued from the two rivers
that had been intercepted by the fire, and
were constantly boiling; and the vast quan-
tity of hot water, which overflowed the mea-
dows and pasture-lands, did no inconsiderable
damage, especially near the farms Svinadal
and Hvaam, in Skaptunge, as well as in
the eastern quarter, where a tract of wood-
lands belonging to Skaptardal was totally
destroyed.
Progress of the
√ IX.
On the 19th of June the fire
fire-stream. extended much farther, dividing
itself into two branches; the one rushing
on, with the same rapidity as it did the pre-
ceding day, in a southern direction along
the river Melquiol and over Medalland: the
138
APPENDIX. C.
other moving towards the east and along
Sida, where it burned the country about
Skalarstapa, and forced itself with incredible
fury up to Skalarfiall; but, as this mountain
checked the more rapid progress of the fire
towards the north, the lava rose considerably
in height, and, in ascending the sides of the
mountain, rolled up its covering of moss in
the same manner as a large piece of cloth
might be done by human means. In the
evening the stream was not above an hundred
and twenty yards distant from the church of
Skal, when the inhabitants quitted it. They
had been in hopes that the fire would have
spared this place, as it had passed by, four
days preceding, without doing any injury;
but just at this moment, contrary to the
expectation of every one, the fire broke out
afresh, and carried away every thing that
had before been left by the lava. This
eruption was accompanied by a strong and
constant trembling of the earth, which had
much abated since the 12th day of June,
the first of the eruption. On the ensuing
day, the fire-stream proceeded to the farm
Holt, overflowing the tract between that
place and Skal, by which means the lava
VOLCANOES.
139
that had lately reached that spot, rose con-
siderably in height. The other branch,
previously mentioned as having bent its
course towards the south, along the river
Melquiol, extended itself widely on both
sides of it.
Destructive
§ X.
Notwithstanding that the farm
consequences. of Skal was placed in an elevated
situation, at the farthest extremity of the
great valley, or Skaal, whence it takes it
name (Skaal in Icelandic signifying a
bowl), yet the lava had prevented all access
to it; and when, on the ensuing day, the
21st of June, great torrents of rain had
swollen the brooks, proceeding from the
mountains on both sides of the farm of Skal,
this place was, together with the church and
adjacent houses, entirely overflowed with
water, which the next morning was boiling
excessively. At the same time that the
flood destroyed Skal, the western branch of
the fire-stream spread itself with great ra-
pidity farther to the eastward, over the river
Steinsmyrarfliot, and all the way to the
parsonage, Holmasel, which, as well as the
140
APPENDIX. C.
church, houses, and the whole neighboring
country, were, on the following night, en-
tirely covered with lava. The farm of
Holmar, likewise, shared the same fate.
Farther account
sustained.
§ XI.
On the day ensuing, the 22nd
of the damage of June, the fire continued in its
progress along the river Steinsmyrarfliot, and
close to the farm Efristeinsmyry, where the
lands were much damaged; but here it
changed its course, proceeding towards the
south from this place, passing the farm
Sydri-Steinsmyri, which consists of five
separate buildings, and stopping about eigh-
teen hundred feet from the most northern
of these, where, however, no considerable
injury was sustained.
The fire-stream spread itself greatly to-
wards the west, over the river Fedgaqvisl,
and overflowed the farms Sydri and Efri-
fliota, together with the houses and lands.
Although the farm Hnausa has not been
destroyed by the fire, yet the rivers Steins-
myrarfliot and Fedgaqvisl, in consequence
of their being dammed up, had caused it
to be almost buried under water, which
VOLCANOES.
141
finally proceeded along the channel of a
small brook, that used to run close by the
house, and is now quite impassable.
The lava farther continued to overflow
the farm Botnar, and much pasture-land,
as well as the country between the river
Landa (which had been filled up with lava),
and the farm Hnausa.
§ XII.
New eruptions. From the 22nd of June to the
13th of July fresh streams were observed to
proceed along the Skaptaa, and extend over
the lowlands. Between Skalarstapi and Skap-
tartunga the lava had risen into a lofty hill,
from the continual eruptions, and had become,
towards its extremity, firm and solid, which
prevented the new streams, that were pour-
ing down the mountains, from having a free
passage, causing them to divide into various
branches; of these, two flowed along the
western and two along the eastern side. One
of the former of these passed over Neshraun
and the farm Hnaus, of which place nothing
is now to be seen, except a small sheep-cote.
The other western branch, which proceeded
142
APPENDIX. C.
along the river Landaa, overflowed the farm
Nes, together with the houses, fields, woods,
and meadows belonging to the parsonage Asar,
as well as most of the lands belonging to the
farm Ytri-asar. The priest saved the greater
part of his effects that could be removed,
and afterwards set off for the western part of
the Syssel.
From these farms the fire-stream over-ran
the southern district beneath, advancing
towards the west, along the broad channel
of the Kudafliöt, one of the largest and
most remarkable rivers in the country. It
stopped, however, a little to the north north-
west of the farm Leidvöll. To the north of
this place a great bight is observed running
into the lava-tracts, of which, indeed, only
one point has reached the Kudafliöt: the
rest having passed the most eastern extremity
of this farm, bending more and more in
that direction to the north of Stadarholt;
thence again, in the same course, imme-
diately to the north of Hnausar.
In the mean while, one of the eastern
branches before mentioned proceeded over
VOLCANOES.
143
the Landbrot, along the Skaptaa, which led
to it, and destroyed in the way several
places; stopping at last in the midst of Hraun-
smelar, in Landbrot. The other branch ran
along the Sida mountains, overflowing, on
the 2nd of July, the church and all the
houses of Skal which had previously been
deluged with water, as well as all the lands
and houses belonging to the farm Hollt,
together with the excellent meadows that
lay to the south of it. It dammed up a
small river that ran close by the farm, and
on the 6th of July, buried Hollt itself in
the lava.
Hence the fire proceeded eastward, and
between the 14th and 17th of July con-
tinued its course along the river Skaptaa,
over the river Fiadra, which was quite
choked up by it. Nevertheless, the greatest
quantity of lava flowed over the lofty water-
fall Stapafoss, in the Skaptaa, and at last
filled up the enormous cavity which had for
so many succeeding centuries been hollowed
out by the waters of this great cataract.
Near this place the lava over-ran the farm
Dalbai, in Landbrot, with all the houses, and
144
APPENDIX. C.
the greater part of the meadows and pasture-
lands, after having done much mischief to
the farms Heidi and Hunkurbacka, upon
Sida. These, however, are not so much
damaged, but that each is still capable of
supporting a family. The farm Holmar, in
Landbrot, was also somewhat injured, as it
was threatened on the north side by the ap-
proach of the lava-stream, and on the op-
posite one by the water which had been
impeded in its progress by the fire.
length, on the 20th of July, the fire ceased
immediately west of an insulated rock,
called Systrastapi*, which lies, at the ut-
most, one mile west of Kirkebai-cloister.
Another fire-stream
§ XIII.
At
Hitherto I have confined my
east of the former. account to the most material
injuries that have been occasioned by the
great western fire-stream, or that which took
its course along the Skaptaa, and the de-
struction caused by it in Medalland, and the
countries adjoining the Skaptaa, which lie
* Systrastapi has received its name from a tradi-
tionary story about two sisters, who, it is said, were
discovered fighting on this rock.
VOLCANOES.
145
to the west of the river Hverfisfliot.
In
what I am now going to relate, it will be
seen that the fire, to the eastward, has raged
with a fury equal to that of the great west-
ern stream, and exhibits a spectacle equally
melancholy and distressing.
The first scene was disclosed on the 28th
of June, when a thick and black bank of
sand and smoke, proceeding from the place
of eruption, and driven by a strong breeze
from the north north-west, towards Fliots-
hversi, caused such a frightful state of dark-
ness over the whole of that district, as well
as over the eastern part of Sida, that, even
at noon, it was impossible in the houses to
distinguish a sheet of white paper from the
black walls. On the 14th previous, indeed,
degree of obscurity, equally uncommon, but
not so terrific, was experienced in the mid-
dle of the day thoughout Sida: but it was
only during the present interval of darkness
that a number of red-hot flat stones, with
enormous quantities of sand and ashes, which
entirely burned up the grass in the pastures,
upon the whole of Fliotshverfet, the two
farms Nupstad and Raudabag only excepted.
fell
VOL. II. *
Ꮮ
146
APPENDIX. C.
These substances poisoned the earth and
water, rendering them alike destructive both
to man and cattle, and threatened to set fire
to the houses themselves, whenever any of
the stones and ashes happened to fall upon
them.
Hverfisfliot
§ XIV.
On the 3rd of August a great
disappears. smoke was, for the first time, ob-
served to arise from the Hverfisfliot, and the
water was found to be excessively hot. This
river, it may here be proper to remark, was
equal in size to the Skaptaa, but infinitely
more dangerous to travellers, in consequence
of the rapidity of the current and the great
insecurity of the ground. Its heat continued
daily to increase, till, at the expiration of a
few days, the waters were entirely dried up.
This circumstance filled the inhabitants of the
district with the greatest fear and consterna-
tion, who, already terrified at the mischief
that had been sustained by their neighbors,
after the drying up of the Skaptaa, antici-
pated similar misfortunes, on observing the
disappearance of the Hverfisfliot. The re-
sult convinced them that their fears were
VOLCANOES.
147
well grounded, and proved to them, that in
this instance, also, the same phænomenon
produced an equal or even a greater degree
of danger.-Dreadful pillars of fire were seen
rising at a great distance among the mountains
in the north, on the morning of the 9th of
August. They appeared to approach nearer
each other, and at last to form, as it were,
a wall or lofty bank upon the earth. Con-
tinual lightnings, with strong hollow sounds,
somewhat resembling thunder, were also
heard in the same direction. A foaming
fire-stream now broke down into the channel
of the Hverfisfliot, urging its course with
incredible and matchless fury. The stream
spread far and wide over the extensive tracts
of sand, situated in the south, and in one
single evening overflowed more than four
miles of ground, in that direction from
Orustuhol (a hill so named from duels hav-
ing been formerly fought there), and en-
tirely blocked up the road between Fliots-
verfet and Sida.
Continual eruptions from the mountains
increased the extent of the tracts of lava,
so that, at the latter end of August, they
148
APPENDIX. C.
entirely over-ran the farms Eystradal and
Thverardal. All the adjoining houses and
the greater part of the enclosures were bu-
ried under the lava, so that the places where
the buildings formerly stood are no longer
visible. These latter eruptions, also, have
done much damage to the farms Selialand
and Thvera, and the inhabitants were en-
tirely frightened away from the parish of
Halfafells, although no houses were de-
stroyed in these places.
The eastern fire-stream broke out at a
much later period than the western one, and
continued raging much longer, frequently at
intervals bursting through the crust or
surface, which had become indurated. It is
even asserted that in February, 1784, a
fresh eruption proceeded from the mountain,
and caused the lava, in the eastern branch,
to rise to such a considerable height as it
now is.
§ XV.
So much for the progress of the fire, and
the immediate destruction occasioned by it.
Were I here to relate all the contradictory,
VOLCANOES.
149
insignificant, ridiculous, and superstitious
accounts that are reported of the eruptions,
it would be both an useless and a tedious
task, especially since the greater number of
such accounts are the offspring of fear and
ignorance. But two questions naturally pre-
sent themselves to our minds, which are too
closely connected with the subject to allow
me to pass them over in silence.-The first
is, "whether the subterraneous
Respecting the
nature of the fire. fire is to be deemed only an
eruption, or the earth itself is to be con-
sidered as ignited; or whether these two
causes may not have operated together?"
I am well aware that the greater part of those
persons that were on the spot bring forward
various arguments in order to prove that the
earth itself was ignited, but the reasons they
assign appear to me to be weak and in them-
selves highly contradictory. It is remarked,
that before the liquid lava had over-run
several of the places now burnt, fire had
actually, here and there, broken through
the soil. We are informed that the pro-
prietor of the farm Botnar, in Medalland,
had, on the first breaking out of the fire,
collected eighty sheep and placed them, as
150
APPENDIX. C.
he supposed, in a state of security upon a
small island, but that, before the farmer had
returned to his own house, the fire ap-
peared to break out from that very island,
and he had the misfortune to be the sad
spectator of the ruin of himself and family.
This account, indeed, was, as far as I was
able to ascertain, perfectly correct, but never-
theless it does not at all prove that the
accident was caused rather by the earth itself
being on fire than by a fire-stream: for, at
the very moment that the farmer had col-
lected his sheep upon this spot, the lava wast
rushing along with the greatest imaginable
rapidity, and took quite a different course
from that which was at first expected; pro-
ceeding towards a neighboring river and
along its channel, till it arrived at the
island, which it burned together with the
sheep.
The Icelandic annals relate a long series
of such eruptions, continued through whole
centuries; but we do not find any account
distinctly describing the nature of the lava-
streams which formerly over-ran whole dis-
tricts. The damage sustained is simply
VOLCANOES.
151
noticed, but upon the subject of the progress
of the fire, authors are entirely silent. It is
therefore quite natural that the late fire
should appear particularly frightful to the
spectators, and that they should be led to
suppose that the fire broke forth from the
entire and uninjured crust of the earth, at
considerable distances from the fire-stream
itself. My own opinion is that such appear-
ances always exist when the stream of lava,
for the first time, pours down from the
mountains upon a fertile tract of land, or
upon a soil that is loose and free from ob-
structions. We may readily imagine what
an immense weight must fall upon the earth,
when the lava rushes down from the high to
the low lands, and we may in like manner
conceive it possible for the lava to burn and
force itself a passage to a considerable depth
below the surface of the earth. The lava
itself being a fluid, driven forward by every
new accession of matter, it can, without
doubt, proceed in its course as well below
as above the surface of the ground, and even
in some instances with greater rapidity.
Above it must work its way over all in-
equalities, and where the stream of lava has
152
APPENDIX. C.
to cross a valley in its course, its progress
is necessarily impeded till the hollow is filled
up:
it must, too, carry with it a great
number of stones and other things, with
which such streams of lava are filled. Be-
neath the surface, on the contrary, where
only that lava can penetrate which is in its
purest and most fluid state, it finds its way
into many places through a more loose and
open soil, percolating like water, continuing
the same even course, and is not stopped by
the above-mentioned inequalities; but flows
forward uninterruptedly to a great distance.
The fire having in this manner forced its
way down into the earth, and proceeded
forward, it is easy to conceive that, in
consequence of the vast heat arising from
so much burning matter, the damp and
moisture would be converted into vapors,
and that these, by the force of the lava,
would be driven up through the crevices,
to the surface of the earth, appearing above
ground in flames. Where, indeed, the soil
is full of rocks, it is not possible for the fire-
stream to proceed with any velocity beneath
the surface, much less through the old lava-
tracts, which are of considerable depth.
VOLCANOES.
153
From these considerations I conclude that
the fire has never been known to proceed,
either from the late volcanoes in Iceland, or
those in any other part of the world, through
the uninjured crust of the earth, at a distance
from the lava-stream, except, indeed, from
the causes just mentioned.
I really believe that there is no more
reason for inferring from the fire bursting
through the earth at a distance from the
stream of lava, that the earth itself is ig-
nited, than there would be to draw the same
conclusion from a simple eruption. And
among other forcible arguments, in favor
of my opinion, it strikes me that the con-
tinual supplies of matter which the streams
receive are a strong proof that such a fire is
really the effect of an eruption. They imply
one common source and one spot whence
they originate, therefore properly belong to
one eruption, and are by no means caused
by the earth itself being on fire: for,
had this been the case, I should imagine
that burnt matter must have been found at
a much greater depth below the surface of
the earth than is the case on open plains,
154
APPENDIX. C.
where it seldom exceeds six or eight feet,
though in other places it is much deeper; for
instance, if it has been impeded by any
thing in its progress, or if it has accumu-
lated in a valley or river. Nor have I been
able, though I took great pains to ascertain
the same, to discover, either in the vallies or
in the mountains, iron or sulphur, nor, in-
deed, specimens of any combustible soil
different from that which may be found to
exist where volcanoes have never operated.
§ XVI.
The above must be considered as an
answer to the first question, and I think I
have proved that the subterraneous fires,
which have broken out in various places,
have been the consequence of an eruption
and not of the earth itself being on fire:
and this answer will naturally lead me to
another question, "Where then
place of eruption. are we to look for the original
source of the eruption?"
Question con-
cerning the
If we were to rely on the many oral
assertions, as well as on those that are com-
mitted to writing, concerning the fire, we
VOLCANOES.
155
should be led to conclude that its origin was
not in one but in many places. At least,
according to the generally received opinion,
one place must be allowed for the eastern
and another for the great western stream of
lava; for so did it appear to those persons.
who in 1783 proceeded to some distance
up the mountains. In like manner the
tremendous pillars of smoke among the
mountains seemed to the inhabitants of the
plains to have various sources, and the same
also seemed to me
me to be the case last
summer, when I was in Sida.
observations, however, I am
From later
induced to
adopt a totally different opinion. According
to a part of my instructions I resolved to
undertake a journey myself from the plains
to the place of eruption, notwithstanding
that every one represented the accomplish-
ment of my design as a thing impracticable
on account of the great distance, the badness
of the roads, the fresh streams, the im-
passable rivers, the intolerable heat, the
dreadful smoke, the suffocating smell of
sulphur, the want of grass and forage for
our horses. All these, however, could not
156
APPENDIX. C.
',
deter me. With a great deal of difficulty
did I at last persuade a brave old man, who
had been born in this district, to accompany
me to the mountains, at least as far as the
place whence it was said that the eastern
stream of lava had its source. It now only
remained for us to consult from what place
such a journey might most conveniently be
undertaken. From Fliotsverfet it was im-
possible on account of the impassable moun-
tains, especially the ice-mountain, Sidu or
Skaptar-Jökul; and moreover the new lava-
tract passes in that direction, as well as the
Hverfisfliot, which is quite choaked up with
lava. From Skaptartungen on the western
side it was likewise impracticable to proceed,
as the Skaptaa and the other two great rivers.
Efri and Sydri-Ofæra, which had been filled
up with lava, impeded the progress in this
direction. It was therefore necessary that
the journey should be commenced from
Sida, and with this view we procured two
horses to convey the two boring instruments
(an earth and a mountain-shaft), with
some provisions and a small tent. To these
were added six riding-horses for myself, my
VOLCANOES.
157
companion, and servant, which latter was to
assist in making experiments with the shafts
as well as to take care of the horses.
Journey to the
§ XVII.
In the morning of the 16th of
mountains. July, at four o'clock, I pro-
ceeded on my route towards the mountains,
and on advancing near the moors, north of
Prestbacke and Mördtunga, upon Sida (for
my tent was pitched between these two
farms), I was greatly astonished at the
miserable appearance of the pastures. Even
here, where many farmers from Sida were
in the habit of sending cattle in summer, for
the sake of the excellent grass, every thing
was evidently quite burned up by the falling
of hot ashes and sand; excepting only in
those places where an enormous mass of vol-
canic ashes and gravel had formed a deep
black covering, and thus wholly concealed
the surface of the earth. The farther we
advanced towards the mountains, the thicker
lay the ashes, reaching in some places even
to the thickness of four or five inches: yet
even here in a few spots some half-withered
herbs and blades of grass were beginning
158
APPENDIX. C.
to make their appearance. The same fate
had attended Sidumanna-afrett formerly so
fertile in grass. In this place ashes and
sand lay still deeper, and not a single trace
of herbage was to be seen; so that it cannot
be expected that vegetation will recover itself
in a less space of time than four or five
years; although there is reason to hope that
in two years, provided no new eruption
ensues, the other lands may again become
in a measure fertile.
After crossing a number of dangerous
moors, I arrived at a very large and well-
known mountain, called Kallbakur, near the
eastern stream of lava. From the north-
eastern extremity of this eminence I could
at one view survey a vast tract of lava which
had proceeded a considerable way towards
the west, passing the north side of Kall-
bakur, between that mountain and another
north-west from hence, called Miklafell.
Between Kallbakur and Eriksfell, a moun-
tain on the eastern side, the lava became
very narrow, nor does it spread itself much
on either side of the former channel of the
Hverfisfliotet, where the smoke was yet
VOLCANOES.
159
rising to an alarming degree. No accumu-
lation of clouds in the air can be imagined
to form a more dense body than the smoke
that now issued from this place, which
rolled itself over twice or thrice before it
could be driven farther on by the wind.
Hence I followed the lava-stream, which
spread itself a long way towards the west,
between Kallbakur and Miklafell, in the
north, at length approaching so near to the
eastern side of the latter mountain, that it
was with great difficulty we could pass
between it and the hill; especially as the
smoke was here very strong. On the western
side indeed there is a road, but it is nearly
impassable; so that nothing was to be done.
but to proceed over the middle of Miklafell.
Here I alighted, and, having given the horses
a little rest, went with my companion over
the lava, as far as the heat would permit us.
I examined with all possible diligence the
different sorts of lava, and whatever else was
remarkable, of which an account will be
given in its proper place, as well as of the
result of the experiments with the boring
instruments.
160
APPENDIX C.
We now proceeded farther upon our
journey, endeavoring to ascend the moun-
tain on the south side; but it was not
possible here to continue our route, except
on foot, and in this manner I at last, with
great difficulty, reached the summit, though
with only one of my companions: for the
other was obliged to take a circuitous way
through a valley, in order to get the horses
over. The prospect from this mountain was
truly melancholy. Towards the east was
seen the new black lava, close by the huge
ice-mountain, while the rest of the picture
presented to the view nothing but the pro-
digious quantity of ashes and sand that were
immediately after the commencement of
the eruption scattered over the whole of
Sidumanna-afrett. Following the lava-stream
still farther towards the north, by sun-set
we arrived at Blæng, a very lofty mountain
and the most northerly one here known.
With great difficulty did we scramble up,
and observe that the stream of lava (which
had passed close by the south-east side of
Blæng, stretching somewhat to the west-
ward along the south side, where a lake is
VOLCANOES.
161
seen in one of the vallies) advanced more
and more to the west on the north side of
the mountain, and appeared to form an arm
in a south-westerly direction towards the
channel of the Skaptaa. The smoke that
issued from the lava-stream north of Blæng
had an appearance equally terrible and in-
describable. It intercepted our view from
this place, which was otherwise very con-
venient for the purpose: yet we could discern
a considerable hillock, or small mountain,
greater in its diameter than in its height,
whence there also proceeded a thick and
black smoke. There I concluded must be
situated the source of the eruption, and im-
mediately advanced on my journey thither:
but I soon found the difficulty of such an
undertaking, as I continued along the lava-
tract north of Blæng. The hazard was
increased by the extreme brittleness of the
pieces of lava and the impossibility of
finding a secure footing; and when we ad-
vanced about sixty or eighty yards upon the
lava it became more and more dangerous
and insecure, and at the same time burning
hot, so that it was no longer possible to
stand upon it. The smoke, too, that rose
VOL II.
M
162
APPENDIX C.
surrounded us on every side to that degree
that we scarcely knew on which side to turn
in order to retrace our steps. At length,
however, we effected this, and I attempted
again to pass the lava in another place east
from Blæng, in hopes that the mouth of
the volcano might be approached on the
north side; but here was experienced the
same strong and insufferable heat as at the
former place, so that I was obliged to return
the next morning at sun-rise, after having
employed the whole night in vain, in en-
deavoring to get over. I still persisted in
advancing along the lava for a considerable
distance by the west and south-west parts of
Uxatindur (where the lava-stream was very
narrow) in order to cross, but my labor was
all fruitless. The heat was intolerable, and
when I began to make use of the boring
instrument, it became, at the depth of four
feet from the surface of the earth, so hot that
it was with difficulty we could draw it up
again, though our hands were protected with
mittens. When I found that my people could
no longer bear to work with the mountain-
shaft, and that the great heat was likely
to render our experiments useless, we moved
VOLCANOES.
163
on towards the outskirts of the lava, where
the temperature was more supportable, and
there continued our observations.
Source of the
eruption.
§ XVIII.
It is I think certain, that the
place whence the eruption had its
origin, is that small low mountain, which I
have just mentioned as being situated to the
north of Blæng, and which is, indeed, the
most northerly one we could discover. That
its source is not farther in that direction,
we have the strongest proof in the Skaptaa;
for, had such been the case, this river
would have been filled up long before, in
which case it must, wholly or in part,
have made its way along the east side of
the lava-tract, north-east from Blæng, in-
stead of taking the western, as at present.
In like manner, could the stream of lava
have flowed farther towards the north, in
that extensive tract of country between
those spots, where the sources of the two
great rivers, Skaptaa and Hverfisfliot, seem
to lose themselves in it, the rivers must have
been sooner choked, and there would con-
sequently have been a great deal of stagnant
164
APPENDIX. C.
sea.
water, which is not the case at present. It
is an undoubted fact, that the whole tremen-
dous current of fire has proceeded from one
common source, and in all probability this
source lay in the small mountain I have been
speaking of; for, from that place, the whole
range of country overflowed with lava gra-
dually slopes as far as the Skaptaa, which is
also the case all the way from Skaptaa to the
Whether this place of eruption was
originally a mountain, or whether it has
been formed by the ejected matter, cooling
around the crater, into its present form,
I cannot determine. But thus much is
certain, that never since the island has been
inhabited has there been known in this spot.
an eruption or a volcano, not even when
Katlegiaa, which is situated a little to the
westward, or when several other mountains
to the eastward, have raged in their greatest
fury. Still, however, there are observable,
in the northern part of Sidumanna-afrett,
in the Borgden, and in the Landbrotet itself,
evident marks of subterraneous fire, which
must have been in an active state, at a very
distant period of time, since our annals are
entirely silent upon the subject.
}
VOLCANOES.
165
Continuation of the
journey through
the mountains.
§ XIX.
Great as was my anxiety
to approach near the seat of the
fire, yet the impossibility of doing so ren-
dered all farther efforts vain, and I was
obliged to return. I felt also considerable
apprehension for my horses, with which I
had now travelled for three successive days,
through long and dangerous roads, without
their having the least forage or grass; and it
may naturally be conceived, that both my-
self and my companions were very much
exhausted by climbing day and night, by
ascending and descending the heated lava,
and by boring with the mountain-shaft,
whilst enveloped in a thick sulphureous
stench. On my way back I continually
followed the course of the lava, commencing
at a place a little way distant from Uxatin-
dur (where the last attempts were made to
use the mountain-shaft, and also to cross
the current) as far as Helisa, a river which
formerly fell into the channel of the Skap-
taa. During this journey the dreadful smoke
arising from Hrossatuna, presented a remark-
able appearance, as far as the lava had filled
its channel. It stood here like a thick wall,
s
166
APPENDIX. C.
forming a direct line with that of the stream.
Yet still the smoke was not so dense in this
situation, as that was which arose towards
Skarptargluifret, for this latter was at a very
great distance distinguishable from the other,
and we were consequently enabled to trace
the exact course of the whole channel of the
Skaptaa to the northward, as far as the tor-
rent of fire had filled and overflowed it. It
was impossible to think of crossing the
stream of lava at this place; for even on the
plain we had found it so excessively hot,
that on three preceding trials, we had been
under the necessity of returning with the
greatest rapidity, to avoid being burnt; and,
if such were the case in a level spot, how
much greater must the heat have been in the
river itself, where the lava lay, without any
exaggeration, from four to five hundred feet
deep. The quantity of smoke, too, was a cer-
tain mark of the vast heat of the mass before
us; and to the difficulty of proceeding in con-
sequence of this impediment, was to be added
another, arising from the waters which had
accumulated, both in the lava itself, and on
its western side, by the stoppage of the
great rivers Skaptaa, Sydri, Efri-Ofæra, and
VOLCANOES.
167
Hrossatuna, together with several lesser
streams. The eastern branch or arm of the
lava was precisely in the same condition; the
river Hverfisfliot being there stopped and
entirely choked up.
But as neither the exhausted state of our
own strength, nor that of our wearied and
famished horses, would allow of our taking
an exact survey of the whole western extent
of the valley, I changed my route in the
afternoon, and turned off from Hellisaa, tak-
ing the shortest road to the eastward past
Geirlandshraun; and, at length, at one
o'clock in the morning of the 18th of July,
regained my tent in safety, between Prest-
bakke and Mordtunga, on the Siden.
Length and
breadth of
§ XX.
The extent of country destroyed,
the lava. together with the progress of the fire,
is thus, as I hope, sufficiently and circum-
stantially described. It will here be proper to
remark that the western current of lava in
its longest or narrow arm out of the valley,
does not exceed six Danish (or about twenty-
four English) miles, in length, even includ-
1
1
168
APPENDIX. C.
ing all its windings as far as Svartenup. From
this place it stretches over the valley towards
the south, to a distance not exceeding three
miles and three quarters, so that its greatest
length, taken from the volcano itself, cannot
be reckoned at more than nine miles and
three quarters, or, at the utmost, at ten
Danish miles. From the farm-house of Skal,
which, together with the church and other
buildings, were deluged and covered by the
torrent, it runs two miles and a quarter
towards the south, and in general cannot be
estimated at more than two miles of breadth,
in the Medalland, where it has nevertheless
most extended its ravages, and has done the
greatest damage.
From what has been now said, it will
readily be perceived that the actual destruc-
tion, caused by the fire in the district of
West-Skaptefield, is by no means of the
extent that many people have described it
to be; and, as I have always regarded it to
be my sacred duty to adhere to the truth of
facts, as far as it has been in my power to ascer-
tain them, it is impossible that my account of
the eruption should coincide with that given in
VOLCANOES.
169
a publication by the student, Mr. Sæmund
Magnussen Holm. A work so inferior and
faulty in its nature, does but little honor to
Danish literature, and still less to its au-
thor; yet it is now not only widely circu-
lated at home, but has likewise abroad been
honored by the decoration of a foreign dress,
and may possibly be received, and readily
credited, among such persons as have not
had the opportunity of obtaining more
correct knowledge. With regard to Mr.
Holm's account of the fire, after having
myself personally investigated the spot, and
correctly estimated the extent of the damage
sustained, I dare venture publicly to assert
that his description is faulty to as great a
degree, as is the difference that will be found
to exist between his two geographical charts
and that which accompanies my statement.
It is a matter of real satisfaction, that the
estates of Holmur, Hunkurbackur, Heidi,
Skaptardalur, Hvammur, Svinadalur, and
the farm of Buland, together with the church
at that place (which Mr. Holm describes as
being totally destroyed by the stream of fire),
are all yet standing in good condition, not
170
APPENDIX. C.
having by any means sustained so much
damage as has been stated by him. And it
is also a subject of rejoicing that, instead of
eighty-nine farm-houses which he informs us
are all damaged, and the greater part of them.
destroyed by fire and by large pumice-stones,
neither Mr. Livetzen, nor myself, could in
the course of our journey (which extended
to every farm in the way of being injured by
the eruption) discover more than eight
farmers'-houses, and two cottages, which can
never be inhabited: these are, Eystridalur,
Thverardalur, Aa, Nes, Hölmasel, Holmar,
Efri-Fliotar, and Sydri-Fliotar. To these,
however, which are totally uninhabitable,
ought, perhaps, to be added the estate of
Eystri-Dalbær, in Landbrot; for this farm,
which has always been subject to annual da-
mages, by the drifted sand from the districts
to the eastward of it, is now, by reason of the
disappearance of the waters of the Skaptaa,
that formerly swallowed up a great portion
of the sand, totally destroyed. Yet it has
not received any damage immediately from
the fire. Exclusive of the two cottages,
called Kalfafellskot and Blomsturvellir, there
are in all, twenty-nine farm-houses which
VOLCANOES.
171
the fire has more or less damaged, yet not to
that degree, but they may in the course of
time again be tenanted. Of these there are
at present fifteen lying desolate, Hvammur,
Svinadalur, Eystri-Asar, Botnar, Hnausar,
Dalbær, Hollt, Skal, Selialand, Thvera,
Nupar, Kalfafell, Mariubacki, Hvoll, and
Skaptardalur. The great distance from the
coast and the difficulty of approaching it, will,
however, probably be insuperable objections
to the last of these places again becoming
inhabited. Of the houses that are damaged,
exclusively of the fifteen farm-houses men-
tioned as being desolate, there are fourteen
still inhabited, Buland, Ytre-Asar, Flaga,
Hrifunes, Leidvollur, Langhollt, Stadenhollt,
Efri-Steinsmyri, one of the five habitations
in Sydri-Steinsmyri, Ytra-hraun in Land-
brot, Eystri-Tunga, Kirkebai-cloister, Hun-
kurbackur, and Heidi. The number of
farm-houses that are in part destroyed and
partly damaged, amounts in all to thirty-
seven, besides four cottages. Twenty-three
only, out of this number, now remain un-
inhabited, which is rather more than one
quarter of the eighty-nine farm-houses be-
fore noticed. It may farther be considered
$
172
APPENDIX. C.
as a matter of consolation, that the da-
mage sustained by the destruction of
the grounds that are favorable to the
growth of the Sea-Lyme-grass (Elymus
arenarius) can scarcely be estimated at one
half of the amount stated by Mr. Holm,
and that, with a few exceptions, the whole
of the sheep-walks in Sidumanna-afrettur
(which in the large chart Mr. Holm has
laid down as being entirely buried under
everlasting lava, and has lamented accord-
ingly in his statement) are yet safe, and may
in fact be said to be untouched by the lava.
I must, indeed, acknowledge that no small
quantity of sand which is scattered over
them, will render them barren for some
few years; but it may likewise be truly said
that they are become unproductive at a most
convenient season, as the inhabitants are at
the same time deprived of their sheep and
cattle; for the loss would have been other-
wise most severely felt. It will certainly
be four or five, nay, probably, ten years
before Siden, the Landbrotet, and Medal-
landet can again be so well inhabited as
formerly; before the farms will again possess
their full number of cattle; and before a
曳
​VOLCANOES.
173
sufficient stock of sheep can be reared. We
have however strong reasons for supposing
that, previously to that time, the pastures
in general will have fully recovered them-
selves, and will be in better condition than
they were at any former period.
§ XXI.
It has been already stated that, from the
lava having filled up the channels of many
of the larger rivers, as well as of the small
brooks, these are in consequence totally
stopped. Among the principal of them, we
may reckon the Skaptaa, Hverfisfliot, Steins-
myrarfliot, Sydri-Ofæra, and Efri-Ofæra, to
which might also be added the larger river,
Tungu, or Kuda; for the current of lava
had extended itself partly into its channel,
and dammed up a portion of the river itself.
The lesser streams that are stopped up, are
those of Fedgaqvisl, Landa, Melqvisl, Hros-
satuna, Hellisa, Laxa, Lingaqvisl, Fiardara,
or Fiadra, Hollisa, and three small brooks
in Landbrotet, Gloppulækur, Vordulækur,
and Tungulækur, which however can only
be considered as smaller branches of the
Skaptaa, and necessarily all disappeared with
174
APPENDIX. C.
the parent stream. But it may be asked,
what has then become of all these rivers and
brooks? To give a full and satisfactory reply
to this question, and to ascertain the course
now taken by the remnants of the streams,
much local information is required, and it is
above all necessary to be well acquainted
with those parts of the rivers that were first.
stopped up, and with the obstructions aris-
ing from the natural situation of the adja-
cent country. I shall now endeavor to lay
before the reader, all that it has been in my
power to collect upon this subject, and shall
first direct his attention to the eastward, be-
ginning with Hverfisfliotet.
§ XXII.
Hverfis-
The
upper part of the river Hver-
fliotet. fisfliot, which still continues to run
freely as far as the lava, becomes at this
place a confined and stagnant water, the
lava having not only entirely filled up the
channel of this large river, but also extended
itself to a considerable distance over its
banks, so that the stream has been con-
strained to work its way under the super-
incumbent volcanic mass, visible only where
VOLCANOES.
175
it fills up such hollow places as it occa-
sionally meets with. It is owing to this
circumstance, that we find several pools of
stagnant water below those places in the
channel of the river that had been stopped:
but no such are to be seen to the north of
this place; and, as the vast quantity of water
which was continually rushing down from
the ice-mountains could not by any means
make itself a sufficient outlet through the
lava, the nearest hollows and crevices of
which, had been already filled up with the
impeded waters, it became necessary that
some of it should discharge itself farther on,
along the side of the rocky hills, and on the
east of the lava; where a considerable broo
is now, consequently, visible. This stream
forced its passage in many places with great
violence, especially to the eastward of the
farm-house of Eystridalur, and thence con-
tinually ran in a direction parallel with that
of the lava, stretching toward the sandy
districts to the south. On the western side
of the lava there was likewise a brook
running past the farm of Thyera, and pa-
rallel with the lava. This, also, at length,
empties itself into the southern sandy dis-
176
VOLCANOES.
1
¡
trict; yet it is by no means my opinion,
that this stream can have taken its rise solely
from the Hverfisfliot. Indeed, the color of
its waters sufficiently proves a mixture of
the mountain, and of the jökul streams;
the latter discharging themselves into the
plain from the jökul stream of the Hverfis-
fliot, which was choked up by the lava;
whereas the other stream proceeded from
various small rivulets and springs, which
descended on the western sides of the moun-
tains.
Without much reflection we might be
inclined to believe that these waters would
at length rejoin, and run along the original
channel of the river; but it must be re-
membered, that the channel itself, was ori-
ginally not deep at this place, but had
been subject to many alterations and shift-
ings, and likewise that, wherever it stretched
out into the sandy plain (being divided
into different branches) it carried along with
it, and heaped up continually, the loose
sand. On the 22nd and 24th of July, 1784,
when, in company with Mr. Livetzen and
some other persons, I travelled over this
VOLCANOES.
177
district, we could scarcely observe any
traces of the bed of the old river, and it
is not a little remarkable that the whole of the
vast quantity of water, which had here spread
itself over the sandy plain, was still smok-
ing in many places. In some parts so
great was the heat, that we could scarcely
bear to hold our hands in it; a circumstance
that was rendered more particularly un-
pleasant by our being under the necessity of
riding at a foot-pace for three long Danish
miles through this hot, and, in general, very
deep water. Every where, too, we were
enveloped in a thick sulphureous fog and
haze, that arose from the surface of it. In
all probability the confined water will in-
crease still more beneath the lava; particu-
larly when it becomes thoroughly cooled,
and nothing is lost by evaporation. A new
channel for the Hverfisfliot will consequently
be formed; for the water, now held in an
unnatural state, from being as it were dam-
med up, must force itself a passage, either
through the lava, or by breaking down its
sides; yet I do not apprehend that any in-
undation will be the consequence, or that any
damage will ensue, except indeed to the two
VOL II.
N
178
APPENDIX. C.
farm-houses, Selialand on the eastern and
Thvera on the western side. Till, however,
such time as a new route is effected across
the lava itself, between Siden and Fliotsh-
verfet, and also between Thvera and Selia-
land, it will be very troublesome for persons
who may have to travel between these two
places; as they will be obliged to pursue a
long and tedious course round the whole
extent of the lava.
Skaptaa and other
§ XXIII.
Having now arrived at the
waters. Skaptaa, and examined, not
merely this great stream, but also the sub-
ordinate rivers and brooks, which had been
stopped in their course or had wholly lost
their waters, I found that this river still
continued to flow uninterruptedly from its
origin as far as a place below Uxatindur and
opposite to Hordubreid, where the torrent
of fire that had from the northward broken
through Ulfarsdal filled up the channel,
as has been before described. That the
river has not been impeded in its progress
before it reached this place, I conclude
from the circumstance of its being here.
VOLCANOES.
179
1
that we first observed stagnant water, which
I consider a sure sign. It was not possible
to have a view of the river itself, on ac-
count of the lava having, above this spot,
accumulated to a considerable height; and
because the atmosphere was every where filled
with a thick smoke, caused by the dread-
ful heat, which still existed both here and
throughout the whole extent of the upper
part of the lava.
A little below this place the volcanic
matter becomes still narrower, and there,
on its western side, as well as upon the lava
itself, we remarked several large pools of
stagnant water, collected from the rivers
Efri and Sydri-Ofæra, which, as well
as the Skaptaa, were here choked up.
Some streamlets, indeed, had found a pas-
sage along the west of the hraun, but never-
theless in this spot the confined waters
became larger, and were more connected
with each other.
Towards the east no body of water ap-
peared to have made its way, until we came
where the lava had filled up the channel of
180
APPENDIX. C.
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 stop-
ped up, forcing itself a passage in a similar
manner, united with the other at some dis-
tance above the farm of Skaptardal. On
the outskirts of this farm the lava was re-
markably 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 diver-
sified with large bodies of water, many of
which flowed one into another with a very strong
current, and afterwards precipitated them-
selves 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
1783, the lava on the outside of Skaptar-
dal was so far cooled, that several persons
who 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
VOLCANOES.
181
across the Kudafliot. This passage they
happily effected in safety, and they like-
wise 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 sum-
mits 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 were to be
seen in the more southern part of the lava;
but in the eastern parts, as about Landbrot
and Medalland, the quantity was inconsider→
able. The whole of the water that fell on
182
APPENDIX. €.
the north side at Skal was swallowed up by
the lava: but this was no more than what
proceeded from some small brooks, running
down from the mountains; whilst on the
other hand the Hollsta creek, which was
stopped by the fire, formed itself into a
large lake, which, being joined by the im-
peded streams of the brooks Fiadra and Laxa,
forced a passage near the sides of the farms
Heidi and Hunkurbackar. Hence it passed
close to the houses, and at the last-mentioned
place threatened the still remaining part of
the adjacent field, as well as the houses,
with total destruction.
Turning hence to the western side, we find
an arm of the Skaptaa has made its way
along the side of the lava-stream and sur-
rounded Svartanup, a cottage belonging to
the farm of Buland; after which, accompa-
nied by the lava itself, it has inundated Litt-
lanes, a cottage also belonging to the same.
estate. The farm-houses
The farm-houses of Hvamm and
Svinadal, very near which it ran, were
much damaged by it, and between these it
was in sundry places dammed up on the
western side; thus giving birth in its course.
VOLCANOES.
183
to various large lakes. Hence it ran for-
ward with a moderately strong current, pass-
ing at no great distance the parsonage
house at Eystri-Asar, the farm-house of
Ytri-Asar, and the flying lands (as they
are called from their being composed of
drift sand) of Flaga and Hrijunes, where
these waters, together with the Tungufliote,
are stopped up, and, in the form of an ex-
ceedingly large inland lake, have inundated
the neighboring country, doing infinite
damage to the two last-mentioned farms,
particularly Flaga, the meadows of which it
has totally overflowed and destroyed. One
arm or branch of this large lake ran, toge-
ther with the Holmsa, into the Kuda-stream.
In the Medallandet many dams were formed
and many brooks dried up; among which
may be mentioned Landa, Melqvisl, Fed-
gaqvisl, Lingaqvisl, and Steinsmyrarfliot.
A quantity of impeded water, draining out
from under the lava, has spread itself over
the morasses belonging to the farm of Hnau-
sar, and thus not only rendered these places
more boggy than before, but likewise en-
tirely surrounded the farm-house, so that
for the present, at least, all access to it is
184
APPENDIX. C.
:
nearly impracticable. The water, however,
which has issued from the south-eastern
point of the lava is by far the greatest im-
pediment to travellers, and will probably
in time become seriously dangerous, should
it continue to increase in the same degree
as it has done of late. We found it still
smoking, though it could not be called
hot and observed where, having taken its
course over deep morasses, it had in many
places forced its way into the soil, forming
holes in which horses might fall and be
much injured, especially as the ground be-
tween these cavities is full of little hillocks
and rugged places. All persons wishing to
proceed from Alptaver or Medalland to Si-
den, must cross this stream, which already
extends itself for a considerable length to-
wards the sea with a moderate current.
Its source is supposed to be one of the
brooks that have been stopped up (pro-
bably Fedgaqvisl), which, after being con-
fined by the lava for a time, has at length
found a passage through it.
There is the greatest reason to apprehend
lest the body of water here confined should
VOLCANOES.
185
hereafter swell to a size too large to be
restrained within its present limits, and,
uniting with the Skaptaa itself, should at
some future time rush forward with de-
struction commensurate to their violence.
The Landbrotet, I should hope, will always
be secure against these inundations; but,
on the other hand, the Medalland is ex-
posed to the greatest hazard, since, imme-
diately to the north of it, large quantities of
water have been dammed up by the lava,
and these at the time of my visit were evi-
dently increasing, and the several pools
were uniting one with another. When we
were at the farm of Stadarholt, in Medal-
land, in the morning of the 28th of July,
we heard a loud noise and splashing, which
arose from the falling of water within the
lava. Taking it for granted, therefore,
that the Skaptaa itself, together with the
other confined waters, must in the course
of time force a passage through the lava, it
follows that they must either overflow Me-
dalland, to the great injury of that district,
or must precipitate themselves into the
Kuda creek, which will consequently be
rendered impassable for people on horse-
186
APPENDIX. C.
back. The only apparent mode of cross-
ing 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, ren-
der it impassable for horses. Even the ex-
pedient 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 accu-
mulated 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. Ne-
vertheless, as it is not given to man to pene-
trate into, or to anticipate, the hidden ope-
VOLCANOES.
187
rations 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 all-
wise Providence.
§ XXIV.
It has been already remarked (§ xx1)
that some branches of the Skaptaa, which
formerly flowed through Landbrotet, as
Gloppulækur, Vordulækur and Tungulæ-
kur, have, together with the parent foun-
tain, 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 ex-
posed 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,
188
APPENDIX. C.
most of the farms in this district are in the
greatest danger; and so imminent is the
peril to which Kirkebai-cloister is stated
to have been exposed, even during the last
year, from the drift-sand, that in case of
its being annually revisited by similar mis-
fortunes, it will in the course of a very short
period become uninhabitable. When I tra-
velled through this district, in the month of
July last, the grass, in a great part of the
enclosed pastures, was covered with sand,
and large heaps of drifted sand lay between the
houses, as well as scattered over the adjacent
country.
Phænomena
§ XXV.
Some of the The principal phænomena attend-
attending ing this eruption have been already
the fire.
1
described. The thick smoke which by day
issued from those districts that had been
burnt, and at night appeared like a flame of
fire, was still to be perceived in the month
of March last, arising here and there from
the lava. Since that period, however, the
smoke alone has appeared. Whilst lying in
my tent at Kudafliot, I noticed, not without
wonder, the innumerable columns of smoke
VOLCANOes.
189
rising from the current of lava between
Skaptartunga and Landbrot. These were
particularly visible in three places towards
the north, among the mountains; and I
learned during my journey, that the most
westerly arose from the channel of the
Skaptaa, the eastern from the Hverfisfliot,
and the middle ones from the source of the
fire, and the district adjoining it. Beyond
Skal our attention was excited by a very
thick column, far surpassing all the others,
which from this spot were to be seen rising
by thousands, almost in a direct line with
the burnt district towards the east, in forms
innumerable and the most agreeable to the
eye. Large bodies of smoke, together with
some smaller columns, were issuing in va-
rious places from the eastern lava, near
Fliotshverfet; but the smoke broke out in
the greatest quantity between Nupar and
Selialand, and also between Eystridal and
Tholvardal, where the channel of the river
had formerly been, and where, indeed, it
might still be traced from the bay quite up
to the place at which the river was first
choked by the lava. Below this place the
smoke appears to increase, contrary to what
190
APPENDIX. C.
might be expected, that it would here be
diminished by the confined waters of the
Skaptaa, Ofærur, and other rivers and
brooks but the same circumstance was to
be observed in the eastern branch, from the
place where the Hverfisfliot is stopped up.
The channel of the Skaptaa was particularly
to be distinguished, as was that of the Hros-
satunas, wherever the bed was filled by the
lava. For a considerable distance above the
farm of Skaptardal and beyond Næs, which
was already burnt, there was in many places.
no smoke, and in other spots so little as
scarcely to be perceptible; but below these
places pillars of smoke were every where
discernible along the whole of the southern
current of the lava, but principally around
Skalarstapi, where they were really dreadful.
It is indeed asserted by several persons that
this quantity has much increased since last.
spring, on which account many people en-
tertained great fears lest a new eruption
should take place. When in company with
Mr. Levetzen and others, I performed a
journey on the 26th of July, from Mörk to
Siden, we turned off to go to Skalarfiall, a
spot which afforded us a prospect equally
1
VOLCANOES.
191
pleasant and extraordinary; for we stood
here upon the top of a very high mountain,
which on the south side was entirely covered
Here and there among the
with grass.
rocks some remains of the farm-house and
church of Skal were still visible. From this
place, which commands a very extensive
view, we could see the whole mass of lava
stretching over Siden and the Medallandet,
and also a part of the western branch to-
wards Skaptartunga. So extensive was the
portion of lava towards the south, that the
eye could not distinguish its boundary from
that of the superincumbent clouds, in which
its utmost extremity appeared to lose itself.
As to the lava, it was every where of a coal-
black hue. In its progress along the channel
of the Skaptaa, as well as along several of its
arms and auxiliary streams, it had formed
itself into a number of lofty hills, running
in a direction from east to west, and appear-
ing from our elevated situation like a flight
of steps. From each of these currents were
rising in greater or less number, columns
of smoke of different degrees of density,
which appeared where we were standing to
reach even to the clouds, exhibiting
192
APPENDIX. C.
thousands of fantastic shapes. The
black ground of the lava was to be seen
between the lighter columns of smoke,
which were, at a considerable height in
the atmosphere, collected together into one
thick bank of clouds, of a white or yellow-
ish tinge, intermixed with shades of a
deeper cast. To the
To the south-west of this
place was just discernible the upper part of
the insulated and steep mountain of Ska-
larstapi, rearing its summit above all the
surrounding lava, though at the same time.
almost enveloped in the dreadful smoke
that was ascending on every part of it.
The streams that issued from the rock
poured down its sides, and added to the in-
describable beauties of this enchanting
scene, the effect of which was still farther
increased by the view of the burnt farm-
house of Hollt. At Dalbae, in Landbrotet,
which is likewise consumed, we remarked
that one of the numerous eminences, shaped
like a ball (which are so common in this
neighborhood out of the reach of the fire,
and which shew evident marks of having
been in a state of conflagration at former
periods), first began to smoke during the
+
VOLCANOES.
193
time of our residence in the eastern district.
No smoke had ever before been seen to ori-
ginate from these hillocks, nor was there
any at the period of my first arrival; but
it considerably increased while we remained
in Siden.
Whether the fire
§ XXVI.
From what has just been
was still burning. said respecting the numerous
columns of smoke, it may perhaps be
by many inferred that the fire was not yet
extinguished; especially as the beds of lava,
both in and beyond the valley, were, so
late as the month of July, 1784, in a state
of extreme heat. Nevertheless, when I
travelled around the lava, I could not per-
ceive any marks of fire, not even in the
vicinity of the crater itself. Nor does it
appear to me, that the dreadful heat
still remaining in the lava, and the nume-
columns of smoke arising from it,
prove the contrary; for, with regard to the
lava, nothing is more natural than that so
vast a body, when once heated, should re-
tain its heat long after it had ceased to be
actually on fire, particularly when it has
rous
VOL. II.
194
APPENDIX. C.
so great a depth as is the case in the
channels of the rivers. Sir Isaac Newton
has even ascertained that a red-hot metal
ball, of only two inches diameter, will take
about an hour to become thoroughly cool,
and the same philosopher has laid it down.
as an axiom that the time required for cool-
ing a body of this sort is in the same.
proportion as the squares of its diameter;
therefore, although this rule may not be
perfectly applicable to the burning lava,
which is so loose and porous, yet some
idea may be formed what an immense
space of time will be requisite for cooling
the new and dreadful streams of lava in
the district of Skaptefield. The well-known
Sicilian author, Massa, informs us, that
in many places, in Catania, he has found the
lava hot even eight years after the great
eruption of Etna, in 1669; and that the
new mountain, which, during the eruption
of 1766, arose in the middle district or
temperate zone of Ætna, was still inwardly
burning in the year 1770, four years after.
Nay, farther, that the lava which flowed
thence in 1766, retained a great degree of
heat in the year 1770, in places where it
VOLCANOES.
195
was deep, and particularly where it had filled
up ravines to the depth of two hundred feet.
Now, if the heat was so great in Sicily,
at the expiration of four years, where the lava
was not more than two hundred feet in thick-
ness, can it be matter of surprise if the
new branches of the volcanic torrent in Ice-
land, which in the channels of the rivers
lay twice or thrice as deep, should still
remain very hot at the expiration of only
one year?
This may therefore be considered as a
sufficient proof that the continuance of the
heat in the lava is not to be regarded as a
certain symptom of the continuance of fire.
For my own part, I am thoroughly con-
vinced that the whole was already extinct
at the time of my travelling in the district
of Skaptefield, which was in the month of
July of last year; for, with regard to the
number of pillars of smoke seen to arise, I
consider them in reality as nothing more
than vapors, produced by the vast quantity
of water arising from the impeded rivulets,
* See Brydone's 9th Letter.
196
APPENDIX. C.
which every where, throughout the whole
extent of the lava, become evaporated into
steam. Such clouds of steam were more
particularly abundant in rainy seasons,
which makes it sufficiently clear that they
owed their origin to water alone. When
Mr. Levetzen and myself travelled from
the farm-house of Skaptardal to the burnt
farm of Skal, and thence up the mountains,
on the 26th of July, we were enveloped in
so thick a fog that we could hardly see for
six yards before us.
The fog had a disagree-
able smell, and at length turned into a
heavy fall of rain. But when we returned
to Skal we were informed that this scent, as
well as the fog itself, was to be found only on
the hills, and that there had been, at the
same time, fine and clear weather in the
valley, together with a southerly wind,
which had finally dispersed the rising va-
pors, carrying them towards the rocks in
the north, and had at length enveloped the
low grounds in a thick fog and heavy rain,
similar to what we had previously expe-
rienced in the mountains. These circum-
stances tend still farther to confirm my
conjecture that the smoke ascending from
VOLCANOES.
197
the lava is nothing more than water, con-
verted into vapor by extreme heat, and
consequently that it can by no means be
regarded as a proof that fire still exists in
an active state among the lava.
§ XXVII.
I now proceed to inquire into the state
of the lava itself, and into the different
kinds of this substance which have occurred
to me. In doing this I shall
Of the nature of
the lava,
first notice the color, which,
whether at greater or less distances from
the place of eruption, was every where of
a greyish ash, intermixed with black: the
latter more particularly predominating.
In many places, where the lava presented
an even surface, it had cooled in the same
form in which it had flowed, and it was
externally either deep red or violet, though
the interior more frequently partook of a
light-blue tint.
Wherever the lava had, from the circum-
stance of various streams succeeding each
other, formed itself into eminences, the
heated vapors naturally forced their way
through the upper and hardened crust,
198
APPENDIX. C.
which was consequently broken, and had
fallen down in fragments of various shapes
and sizes. In places where the lava was
smooth and even, it was from the like cir-
cumstance full of cracks and rents, and in
such places, but principally in the deep
hollows, it was strewed on the surface
with a fine white kind of dust, somewhat
resembling salt, of which, with infinite
pains, I was able to collect a small quantity.
In a few spots, also, where the surface of
the lava was level, might be seen yellow
veins of sulphur among the cracks. Some
of this I endeavored to procure with a
pick-axe, by which means I broke into a
number of concealed vacancies, that exhi-
bited a mixture of various colors; while
from their roof or upper part hung a great
quantity of small projecting points, either
of a sulphureous yellow or a dark red color.
At the extremity of these processes, were
seen a quantity of red drops, which in dry-
ing had become indurated, but which, not-
withstanding their small size, would bear
a smart blow with a hammer without being
broken. The bases of the cavities were
chiefly yellow and green, though sometimes
VOLCANOES.
199
a reddish color was intermixed with them.
In the bottom of one, I met with a beautiful
kind of lava, remarkable for being most
elegantly variegated with red, green, and
yellow. Lava of the common sort, such
as is every where to be found, has always
a blackish hue within, with an exterior of
a bluish cast, or sometimes with a mixture of
red and violet color. Another species, some-
what different from the two just described,
was found near Blæng, at a little distance
from the lava-stream. A fourth kind of
rock also is thrown out by the volcano, and
carried across the Fliotshverfet. This ap-
pears to be a black slate, shining within like
pit coal its exterior is marked with nume-
rous white dots. With regard to pumice-
stone, I could find no large pieces of it.
Those which I met with were about the
size of a hazel-nut, of a brown color, fine
in quality, its weight light, and its nature,
as far as I could judge, exactly the same
as that used in the arts. Under the five
kinds of mineral substances here mentioned,
which have been thrown up by the volcano,
all others which have come under my in-
spection are to be classed, as they cannot
R
200
APPENDIX. C,
+
be considered to differ essentially from them.
For the information relative to their compo-
nent parts, I am entirely indebted to the
skill and knowledge of our celebrated coun-
tryman, Mr. Myhlensteth, who has had the
goodness to make an accurate chemical
analysis, not only of the various kinds of
lava, but of the fine whitish substance re-
sembling salt, which has been before men-
tioned, and also of various other substances,
one among which deserves particularly to
be noticed, a kind of ravelings, which re-
sembles grey hairs. This was to be found
every where in the vicinity of the fire, but
especially on level sandy places, and no
where in so great quantity as on the exten-
sive sandy plain of Skeidarasand, to the
eastward of Nupsvaters and Fliotshverfet.
The filaments sometimes lay spread out singly
upon the ground; sometimes mixed and
interwoven with each other; in other
places, twisted by the action of the wind
into the form of garlands of various sizes,
or into circles of a light grey color. The
ravelings themselves, though short and
broken, resembled the finest hair.
VOLCANOES.
201
The following is the result of Mr. Myh-
lensteth's experiments upon the five differ-
ent kinds of volcanic substances which
were sent to him, and which have now been
mentioned :
No. 1
resembles
resembles externally the scum
of iron. Two ounces of it being pulver-
ized, one ounce of iron was extracted from
it, by means of the loadstone, and was per-
ceptible, with a magnifying glass, in small
thin laminæ, to which some lava was still
attached. These two ounces were put into
an equal quantity of oil of vitriol, mixed up
with it, then thinned with eight parts of
water. The vitriolic acid evidently dissolved
the iron, when the solution was separated,
which, at blood-heat, afforded a fine Prus-
sian-blue color. The remaining part, that
was not dissolved by the vitriolic acid, was
thoroughly dried and found to have lost
three quintins of its weight, and the load-
stone had no effect upon it. Another experi-
ment was tried with one ounce of this mineral,
from which the magnet only extracted one
and a half quintin, and the vitriolic acid
dissolved only twenty-four grains of it.
1
202
APPENDIX. C.
No. 2. A mass of matter melted and
run together, colored on the outside with
red and green. It consists of sulphur,
mixed with iron, copper, sand, and other kinds
of earth which contain some acid of salt.
If a piece of it is put into a moderate coal-
fire, and thoroughly heated, it gives a very
fine blue flame. Ten quintins of it were
made red-hot in the fire, pulverized, mixed
with an equal quantity of oil of vitriol, and
diluted, during the operation, with eight
parts of water. After some hours, the solu-
tion was separated, and gave a fine copper-
color to a piece of polished iron. To this
solution was added as much iron as could
be dissolved, for the purpose of separating
the copper, which, on being afterwards
melted, was found to weigh fifteen grains.
This copper yielded readily to the hammer,
and with the addition of spirits of sal am-
moniac afforded a very bright blue color.
To the sediment, still undissolved, was again
added half as much vitriolic acid, and the
whole was treated in the same manner as
before. The solution was then precipitated
at blood heat, and afforded one quintin of
Prussian blue. The still remaining sedi-
VOLCANOES.
203
ment, when dried, weighed eight quintins,
and consequently the acids had extracted
one quintin and forty-five grains of iron,
and fifteen grains of copper. The remain-
ing eight quintins, when melted down with
borax, gave a clear black glass, without re-
gulus.
No. 3. A white kind of calcined earth,
one ounce in weight. It caused an astrin-
gent sensation upon the tongue. On being
put into boiling water, half a quintin of cop-
per vitriol was extracted from it.
No. 4 was to all appearance nothing
but common lava, and, as far as could be
ascertained, consisted of sulphur ore mixed
with iron, a little copper, and various kinds
of earths, melted down together. The mine-
ral acids had no effect upon the lava, and,
on its being pulverized, a very small quan-
tity of iron only was produced. Four small
pieces, weighing three and a half quintins,
which appeared to be more light and
brittle than the rest, and totally free from
white spots, were melted down with borax,
when they yielded a lump of copper weigh-
ing three and a half grains. Half a pound
204
APPENDIX. C.
of this lava was pulverized and properly mel-
ted, but it gave no more than three
grains of copper.
No. 5 was a piece of common pumice-
stone.
Of the whitish powder, with which the
cavities of the lava were filled, I got a small
sample weighing one and a half quintin.
It had a saltish taste, and on crystallization
afforded proper Glauber salt, which weighed
two-thirds of a quintin, and ten grains of
kitchen-salt.
The grey and hair-like ravelings above-
mentioned were found to be of the same
nature as Nos. 1 and 4, and in all probability
are the self-same substances drawn out into
fine threads, which, from the delicacy of
their structure, are easily broken, and are
carried about by the wind in various direc-
tions to considerable distances. Twenty
grains of them were melted down by means.
of a moderate fire to a black glass *. So
* Professor Wilke, at Stockholm, procured a small
sample of this hair-like substance from Iceland, and
has given a dissertation upon the subject, similar to
VOLCANOES.
205
extremely brittle was the texture of the lava,
even last autumn, when so far
cooled as to suffer any one to
Solidity of the
lava.
*
hold it in his hand, that the application of
moderate pressure instantly reduced it to a
fine powder; but it was now on the contrary
become considerably solid, insomuch that it
was with great difficulty I could work
through it, in many places, with the boring-
instrument. Notwithstanding this, it was
still very dangerous and unsafe, and was
every where difficult to walk over. Unsafe
it must also of necessity remain for a long
time, on account of the numerous sharp
points and projections with which its surface
is covered, and upon which it is scarcely
possible to tread with the thin Icelandic
shoes, made of raw hides, or even with thick
and properly soled ones, without immediately
cutting them through. Much danger, too,
arose from the circumstance of the hot va-
pors which it concealed, having, previously to
the lava becoming thoroughly cool, produced,
as above mentioned, innumerable hollow
places, the arch-way or ceiling of which,
that inserted in Dr. Crell's Annals of Chemistry, for
1784. Book 11. p. 323,
206
APPENDIX. C.
·
though in appearance resembling the rest of
of the lava, yet was not sufficiently thick or
strong to bear the human weight.
That the floors or bottoms of these cavi-
ties owe their colored appearance to the
different kinds of sulphur, iron, and other
metallic substances which have melted and
dropped from the arched surface, will readily
be perceived, without the necessity of my
remarking it; and it will likewise easily be
understood, that the spiculæ, which hang
from the ceilings, are nothing more than a
part of the lava, more or less intermixed
with strong substances, which, whilst drop-
ping, had cooled and become indurated.
§ XXVIII.
It has already been mentioned, (§ xvII.)
that the great heat arising
Attempts with the
boring-instruments.
from the lava was no small
obstruction to the experiments we had hoped
to have made with our boring-instruments,
in the hilly country, as well as in the vallies;
insomuch, that I began to entertain fears
lest this circumstance should render these
instruments quite useless; preventing us, as
VOLCANOES.
207
it did, from employing them, except where
the ground was proportionably cool. It is
scarcely in the power of any one to form
an idea of the difficulty that attended this
part of our labors. To be continually turn-
ing the instruments round, and working
through the hot, hard, and uneven lava,
while we were at the same time treading
upon its sharp-pointed edges, was certainly
a task as painful as it was irksome. Never-
theless, by these trials, I found that the lava
in some places did not lie more than six or
eight feet deep; that in many it did not ex-
ceed ten feet; and that wheresoever, as was
the case in certain situations, it was far
deeper, its depth seemed wholly to depend
on the peculiar nature of the country.
Both below the lava, and close by its side,
was found either sand or earth of the same
kind as that which appears every where in
this district, at a distance from the fire, as
in the peat-bogs or in the grounds where
the sea-lyme grass (Elymus arenarius)
grows; but no kind of slate could be dis-
covered in the neighborhood. The boring-
instruments were useful, in enabling me to
ascertain the quality of the soil below and
井
​:
208
APPENDIX. C.
about the lava, as well as the depth and
nature of this latter beneath the surface of
the ground, and they farther confirmed me
in the opinion which I have stated above,
that the volcano was to be considered as
arising from a partial eruption, and not
from any internal and universal ignition of
the earth.
Height of the
The height, to which the
lava. heaps of lava rise in the level
country, is in some parts very consider-
able; particularly at Skalarfiall, where they
have reached up to the rocks that project.
from the south side of the mountain : yet,
nevertheless, were we to calculate its extreme
height on the plains at an hundred feet (and
even this is not quite a fourth part of what
has been stated *), I am still persuaded we
should greatly exceed the reality.
§ XXIX.
It has been already noticed in its proper
place, that, after the first breaking out of
* See Holme's Account of the Fire, p. 19, where
the height of the lava is estimated at seventy fathoms,
or four hundred and twenty feet.
VOLCANOES.
209
State of the weather
after the 1st of June,
1783.
the fire, a great quantity of
ashes, sand, and sulphureous
dust was thrown over the adjacent districts,
particularly those of Siden and Fliotshverfet.
The long continuance of westerly winds,
too, drove the sand-bank away from Skaptar-
tungen to the places just named; and the
vast quantity of burning sand falling around
scorched up all the grass in the fields about
Fliotshverfet to such a degree, that there
were no means of support for the cattle,
and the inhabitants fled from all the farms in
this district, excepting the most easterly
one, called Nupstad, which, together with
the neighboring farm of Raudaberg, re-
mained uninjured by the hot ashes. It is an
undoubted certainty, that, if Providence
should be pleased to grant better seasons.
to Iceland than the present, not only the
parsonage of Kalfafell, with the cottage of
Kalfafellskot, appertaining to it, but also
the farm-houses of Nupar, Mariubacki, and
Hvoll, will, in a very few years, be restored to
their former condition; especially as the lava
itself has not reached them. We may then
reckon the number of farm-houses damaged
at twenty-five, instead of twenty-nine (see
VOL II.
P
210
APPENDIX. C.
xx.), and make the whole amount, in-
cluding those totally destroyed, to be thirty-
three. It will easily be conceived, that, in
proportion as the air became more and more
filled with ashes, sand, sulphur-dust, and
the smoke and aqueous vapors arising from
the burnt districts, it must likewise become
more fetid and unwholesome; and, indeed,
even intolerable to those who were afflicted
with the asthma, who, at such a time, could
scarcely draw their breath. The presence
too, in the atmosphere, of this mass of ex-
traneous particles, obstructed in some mea-
sure the light and warmth of the sun, and
caused to prevail, even at the height of
summer, a most piercing and unnatural
cold; in addition to which, what was still
more unseasonable, a heavy fall of snow
took place on the 11th and 21st of June.
It was however soon melted. Almost all
the new eruptions were accompanied by
showers of hailstones, of an extraordinary
size, equalling that of a sparrow's egg.
These caused much damage and destruction
to the grass, and nearly killed both men
and cattle; but the mischief occasioned
even by these was trifling, in comparison
VOLCANOES.
211
of what was caused by the heavy rains *,
which, mixing with the sand, ashes, and
sulphur, that had before fallen in immense
quantity, incrusted the fields with a kind
of black coat, somewhat similar to ink,
but thicker, which poisoned the
poisoned the grass,
and rendered the water stinking and unfit
for use. Even the rain itself, in descending,
became impregnated with sulphur and
ashes, which sorely affected the eyes, caused
a giddiness in the head, and was attended
with pain as often as it fell on the naked
body. The sun, from the impurity of the
**
During one of the heavy falls of rain," it is
stated by Holm that, "there was observed, at Dron-
theim and at other places in Norway, and also at Fer-
roe, an uncommon fall of sharp and salt rain, which
was so penetrating, that it totally destroyed the leaves
of the trees, and every vegetable it fell upon, by
scorching them up and causing them to wither. At
Ferroe, there fell a considerable quantity of ashes, sand,
pumice, and brimstone, which covered the whole sur-
face of the ground, whenever the wind blew from
Iceland; and the distance between these two places,
is at least eighty (Danish) miles. Ships that were.
sailing between Copenhagen and Norway, were fre-
quently covered with ashes and brimstone, which
stuck to the sails, masts, and decks, besmearing them
all over with a black and pitchy matter."
212
APPENDIX. C.
air, lost his splendor, and was shorn of his
beams: indeed, it was very seldom that
he was at all visible; and, when he was
so, he appeared as a ball of glowing metal.
The smoke covered the whole face of the
island for weeks and months together, so
that seamen could not get sight of the coast.
* This dismal atmosphere was not confined to Ice-
land; an obscurity in the air, and an unusual redness
of the sun, were remarked also in England. In a copy
of Horrebow's History of Iceland, now before me, is
the following marginal note written by Mr. Sparrow
of Worlingham Hall, a gentleman to whom I am happy
in thus having the opportunity of acknowledging the
obligations I feel myself under, for the ready access
he has granted me to his invaluable library, and espe-
cially for the use of some scarce works relative to
Icelandic History." An eruption of Hecla (as it was
for a long time supposed to be) broke out again in
the spring of the year 1783. In the month of May,
of that year, I was in Holland, where the sun appeared
for a great length of time to be enveloped and ob-
scured in a thick dry mist; the cause of which was
not then known. About the end of the year, two
very large and luminous meteors astonished the world;
they took a south-westerly direction, and were seen,
apparently at the same elevation, and nearly at the
same point of time, in the eastern parts of England,
and the southern parts of Europe. They were remarked
about seven or eight o'clock in the evening, within,
VOLCANOES.
213
until they were close upon it; and in the hilly
country the haze was so thick, that it almost
entirely impeded the prospect. Such was the
height to which, in the summer of 1783, the
columns of smoke ascended, that they might
be seen at the distance of thirty Danish (one
hundred and twenty English) miles from
the land, appearing like clouds in the air.
The same thickness in the atmosphere con-
tinued until the middle of September in the
same year; but, after that time, a prevalence
of southerly winds happily brought with
them a clearer air. It is remarkable, that
in the summer of 1783, these winds had
always been attended with the finest weather,
contrary to what might have been expected,
that northerly winds would have been re-
quired, to drive to sea and disperse the smoke
arising from the southern side of the country;
but at this time, although it is not to be
denied that the southerly winds necessarily
I think, six weeks of each other, and about the
middle of November. They approached so near to
the earth, that I remember hearing a servant say, he
stooped as one passed over him, fearful of being struck
by it. They went with amazing velocity, and were
soon out of sight."
214
APPENDIX. C.
impelled the smoke from the volcano into
the interior of the country, yet they never-
theless were accompanied by a clear air and
fine weather. The cause of so remarkable
a phænomenon has been supposed to be a
volcanic eruption arising from out of the sea,
to the northward of Iceland, or, possibly,
from the eastern bay of Greenland; since
it has been observed, that the thickest dark-
ness has uniformly been experienced, and
the greatest quantity of ashes fallen, during
the prevalence of northerly winds. How
far this conjecture may or may not be well
founded, I will not presume to say; for,
although we see that some notice has been
taken in the Berlin papers, printed at
Copenhagen, of a fire said to have arisen
out of the sea, between Iceland and Green-
land, yet that circumstance must for the
present be reckoned among those which re-
quire farther confirmation. Nevertheless, I
must acknowledge that it is not altogether
destitute of probability; for, if the smoke
which was spread over the country with
northerly winds did not originate in a place
* For the year 1783, in No. 96, and others.
VOLCANOES.
215
burning in that direction, it will not be
easy to conceive whence it could proceed,
unless it may be supposed that the columns.
before mentioned, as abundant in the dis-
trict of Skaptefield, had, by southerly
winds, been carried far away to the north,
and were now driven back by the winds
blowing from that quarter. When the win-
ter of 1783 came on, the hazy weather was
less perceptible, yet it was still observable
for three days in November, and again once
in December; on the 13th, the 29th, 30th,
and 31st of January, 1784; then twice in
February; as also in March and April, and
in June, after which it prevailed almost
daily in July, whilst I remained in the vi-
cinity of the fire. Indeed, it could not well
be otherwise, but that as soon as the thick
vapors, arising from the districts filled by
the lava, were dispersed by the winds, they
must necessarily cause fogs and hazy wea-
ther in those places to which they were
driven. After the prevalence of so thick
an atmosphere as has been just described,
it was remarked, at several periods during
the following winter of 1784, that the sur-
face of the snow was covered with very fine.
216
APPENDIX. C.
1
•
dust or ashes. Nevertheless, this mist or
fog brought with it no putrid air, subse-
quently to the close of the summer of 1783,
with the single exception of two days in the
month of April, 1784, when a very strong
sulphureous smell was perceived even at the
Bishop's residence at Skalholt, and at many
places in the district of Aarnes. During the
time I remained at Siden, in the month of
July last, the air had a strong smell of sul-
phur as often as the winds were northerly,
and this was particularly intolerable about
sun-rise; so that I could then with difficulty
draw my breath, whilst lying in my tent.
I have already hinted that the damage
which the pastures have sustained from the
torrents of rain are incalculable; for these,
accompanied with continual lightning and
with the most dreadful peals of thunder, have
not only in many places rendered the surface
of the earth for ever unproductive, by dis-
lodging from the neighboring eminences
great fragments of rock, but have elsewhere
materially injured vegetation by covering
the ground with black dust, mixed with the
hair-like ravelings, ashes, sand, and sul-
VOLCANOES.
217
phur, thus poisoning the animals, and con-
sequently cutting off the very life springs of
the inhabitants. The feet of the poor cattle,
and their heads, as far at least as their eyes,
and the inside of their mouths, became
changed, by their going into these pas-
tures, especially such as are damp and
marshy, to a sulphureous yellow color, and
were filled with wounds and boils. The fire
itself having much decreased since the begin-
ning of the winter of 1783, the heavy
squalls of rain became less frequent after
that period, yet they nevertheless once or
twice happened whilst I remained in the vi-
cinity of the eruption. I shall never forget
the last of these, which I witnessed while
travelling with my companion in Skaptartun-
gen. It was terrible in the extreme; and
the rain fell, not in drops, but, as it were,
in continued streams, accompanied with
unceasing thunder and lightning; so that we
were completely wet through in less than a
quarter of an hour. We at length reached
the parsonage-house of Eystri-Asar, which
had been for more than a twelvemonth
deserted, and there took shelter for an
hour, till the tempest had subsided. Whilst
218
APPENDIX. C.
here, we examined the church, but could not
perceive that it had sustained any damage
from the convulsions of the earth *. When
we afterwards travelled across the heaths to
the northward of this place, towards Svinedal,
we noticed, with the greatest astonishment,
that large lumps of ice, three inches in dia-
meter, and one or two inches in thickness
(which for the most part consisted of con-
gealed hailstones), had fallen in various
places during this dreadful rain. At but
a short distance from the burnt districts,
for instance, at Alptaveret, there was fine.
clear weather, so that these torrents of rain
were only experienced in the immediate
vicinity of the places just mentioned. I am
therefore fully convinced that they were no-
thing more than the watery vapours which
had arisen from the hot lava, and which
(now that their weight overpowered the
elasticity of the subjacent atmosphere) formed
themselves into clouds and fell in torrents.
It follows by the same mode of reasoning,
that the rain will also tend to confirm the
conjecture which I had long before expressed
*See Holm's Account of the Eruption, p. 21.
1.
VOLCANOES.
219
(§ XXVI.), that the smoke arising from the
lava was only water, evaporated by excessive
heat.
§ XXX.
The volcano likewise affected the fisheries
in the year 1783; as the thick clouds of
smoke and dust, which continually covered
the land, rendered it too
dangerous for the fishermen
Effects of the Volcano
on the Fisheries.
to put out to sea, and prevented their find-
ing the proper fishing-stations. In conse-
sequence of this the summer fishery proved
very inconsiderable. In the district of West
Skaptefield the fire had a still greater and
more destructive effect on the trout-fisheries,
in the fresh-water lakes; for a larger quan-
tity of volcanic ashes and sand had na-
turally fallen here than in other parts of the
country, and these imparted an unusually
blue color, sometimes tinged with yellow,
to the waters, which at length became so
foul and putrid, that great numbers of the
fish were driven dead upon the beach. On
the other hand, however, the drying up of
the Skaptaa was of essential service to the
inhabitants; because a number of large sal-
*
220
APPENDIX. C.
mon, which had previously gone up the
stream, were thus, in various places, pre-
vented from returning. In such, therefore,
of the pools as still retained their water, the
inhabitants had an excellent supply, these
serving as complete stock-ponds to the
neighborhood. I purposely denominate this
fish, salmon, although I am aware that in
the district of Skaptefield it is called trout,
which appellation is likewise given to it by
Mr. Holm. I have never had an oppor-
tunity of seeing it myself, but, according to
all the descriptions I have received of it, it
could be nothing else than salmon: indeed,
the weight alone of the fish affords a suffi-
cient proof of what they are; the general
average being from fifteen to thirty pounds,
and the largest rising to at least ten pounds.
All the endeavors I could use to
obtain farther information respecting this
fish, by enquiries among the inhabitants,
enabled me to collect nothing more than
that it is the same kind as that which is
usually caught in the white creeks, near
Skalholt, and in the Borgefiord, as well as
at Grimsaa, and in various other places.
It has long been considered as a decided
more.
VOLCANOES.
221
matter that no salmon are to be found in the
eastern part of Iceland, and I am inclined
to think that it is solely for this reason, that
the fish caught in the district of West Skap-
tefield have hitherto passed under the name
of trout.
Exclusively of the damage and loss oc-
casioned to the fisheries by the fire, this
calamity has likewise driven from the
country various kinds of birds, that used
to build their nests there; among which
the principal are the swans. The inhabi-
tants were well acquainted with the time
that these birds cast their feathers, which
was in the month of August, when the peo-
ple used to climb the rocks and take a great
number of them: but the sulphureous smoke
and stench effectually banished them all;
and the few eggs, that were found in the
deserted nests, were so thoroughly impreg-
nated by the smoke, as to be unfit for
eating.
Influence of the
fire upon vege-
tation.
§ XXXI.
What influence the volcanic
eruption has had on the growth
222
APPENDIX. C.
of the grass, and the miserable consequences
that have ensued from the failure of the
latter, cannot be described in few words.
It is easy to conceive that the progress of
vegetation, in the district of Skaptefield,
where the fields were immediately covered
by the poisonous black substances, must
unavoidably be stopped. But the misery
was far from being confined to this place
alone; for, even out of the district, where
the volcanic sand and sulphureous ashes did
not fall in any considerable quantities, the
growth of the grass, which, until the erup-
tion took place, was in a most promising
state, was after this time totally prevented.
Plants of all kinds withered, and became so
brittle that the mere treading upon them
reduced them to powder. The first that
felt the baneful influence were the Butter-
cup (Ranunculus acris), in Danish called
Smörurt, and the Fisilen (Leontodon Tarax-
acum). The Elting (Equisetum fluviatile)
was the last to suffer. The same poisonous
dust also attacked the cabbages and other
vegetables in the gardens, totally checking
their growth; and, having thus extended
itself over the whole country, caused a ge-
VOLCANOES.
223
cow.
Not,
neral failure of the crops of grass.
however, equally in all places; for the want
was particularly experienced in the northern
district, where, according to report, the
united produce of several farms at Langanaes
was not more than sufficient to feed a single
It is true that the number of horned
cattle and sheep was already greatly de-
creased, previously to the eruption, a circum-
stance which was partly occasioned by a
succession of bad years, and partly by the
infection that had recently prevailed among
the sheep, and had induced a necessity of
destroying great numbers. But still the loss
was most severely felt; for, in the autumn
of 1783, the natives were obliged to kill
more than a third, nay, in some parts, even
the half, of their remaining stock of cattle,
for want of fodder. What is farther remark-
able is, that in the summer of 1783, the
Insects among pastures in many places swarmed
with little winged insects, of a
species hitherto unknown in Iceland. These
were of blue, red, yellow, and brown colors,
and appeared nearly to resemble the earth-
fly. They were particularly troublesome to
those employed in securing the hay, who
the grass.
224
APPENDIX. C.
were soon covered with their unwelcome
guests. Many people have assured me that
they even found numbers of them still living
among the hay, in the depth of the ensuing
severe winter; and, what is yet more extra-
ordinary, that they left their quarters after
a day or two of thaw or mild weather.
I have no reason to think that the thick-
ness of the air had any apparent effect upon
the grass in the late summer of 1784. The
hazy atmosphere before described, which
was occasioned by the smoke arising from
the lava, was but seldom observed out of
the district of Skaptefield, and the weather
was likewise very mild and warm, from the
latter part of the month of April till the
end of July; yet still the growth of grass
was almost every where indifferent, and
the pastures occasionally frozen, especially
where the soil was firm and level. Some
hopes, however, are entertained, that, not-
withstanding the very moderate crops of
grass, a supply of fodder, however scanty,
may be secured for the surviving cattle.
The case is quite different in Siden and
Medallandet, and perhaps in the whole of
VOLCANOES.
225
the district of Western Skaptefield; for there,
provided the continued rains have not alto-
gether prevented the hay from being har-
vested, there is no fear of a similar scarcity;
the grass having grown in the greatest luxu-
riance, nay, even in an almost incredible
quantity, both in the Medallandet and in
Siden, and likewise on the two most easterly
and deserted farms of Nupstad and Rauda-
berg, in Fliotshverfet.
I am strongly inclined to believe that this
extraordinary degree of fertility is chiefly
ascribable to the ashes, which have been
thrown out by the volcano, and have fallen
in the vallies, serving them both as the
means of protection to the herbage and
as manure. The great and rapid growth of
the forests around Etna * has always been
attributed to a similar cause, and it has
likewise been remarked in Iceland that a
luxuriant vegetation generally succeeds the
eruptions of Hecla. This, therefore, in-
* See Brydone's Letters through Sicily and Malta,
p. 89-93.
+ See Bishop Finsen's Account of Hecla, 1766, p. 39.
VOL. II.
Q
226
APPENDIX. C.
duces the opinion that we must seek for
the cause of the failure of the crops of grass
all over the country, except in the places
just mentioned, in the dreadfully severe
frost * and cold of the preceding winter,
when the earth was frozen to the depth of
five or six feet; so that it was not entirely
thawed in the beginning of the month of
July, even in the neighborhood of the fire.
The loss sustained in this district by the
destruction of the ground which used to
produce the Sea Lyme-grass (Elymus are-
narius) is the more deeply felt, since this
plant has become an article of consequence
among the inhabitants. The flour it yields
is considered to be finer in quality and more
nutritive than any which is imported †; so
that, although the drying and preparing of
* In the winter of 1784, the thermometer upon
Réaumur's scale varied from ten to twenty degrees of
cold, and at Skalholt, Bishop Finsen once remarked
Réaumur's thermometer at twenty-one degrees below
the point of congelation. The excessive severity of
that season continued till the end of the month of
April.
+ See Olafsen and Povelsen's Travels in Iceland. § 810.
VOLCANOES.
227
the grain are but imperfectly understood in
this district, it was nevertheless in so ge-
neral use, that little or no other corn was
bought at the trading towns. There are,
however, notwithstanding the general cala-
mity, some few of these grounds still re-
maining uninjured, and these, so early as
the latter end of the month of July last
year, appeared in a most flourishing state;
for the remark, already made as to grass
in general, holds good also with the Elymus
arenarius, that volcanic ashes are its best
manure.
In the district of Western Skaptefield,
and especially at Siden, the Hvannarot (the
root of Angelica Archangelica), the Holl-
tarot, or Hardasoe (the root of Silene
acaulis), and the Gelldingarot (the root
of Statice Armeria), have also been used
by the inhabitants as common articles of
food, particularly in the spring, or in seasons
of scarcity. They are also not unacquainted
with the means of preserving their stock of
Angelica root, which they gather in the
autumn, and secure during the winter, by
burying it a sufficient depth in the earth to
be out of the reach of the frost, or by laying.
228
APPENDIX. C.
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 ge-
nerally dug up in the spring, and, as soon
as freed from the soil, are eaten either raw,
or boiled in water with a little milk. In
the 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 in-
habitants, was, together with those before
mentioned, which grew in great abundance
in Sidumannna-afrett, buried under an im-
mense 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 de-
ficiency 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
VOLCANOES.
229
fields were entirely covered with the in-
fectious 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 atmo-
sphere; where a terrific stream of fire, a
melted mass of lava, had urged its impetuous
course; in short, where all the most fearful
phænomena 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
230*
APPENDIX. C.
gained strength, during the mild winter and
beautiful spring of 1783, but this did not
prevent them from dying off in considerable
numbers, during the week or fortnight
immediately subsequent to the eruption,
with inflammatory diseases caused by the
poisonous quality of the food. Such was
particularly the case with the sheep, of
which, in the district of Skaptefield, it was
remarked that, whereas in Iceland they
generally walk facing the wind, they now
regularly turned away from it; naturally
anxious to avoid the strong sulphureous
smell, which the infected breezes brought
along with them. As the cold, too, at a
distance from the fire, was unusually piercing,
they instinctively approached the current of
lava, by which many of them were over-
whelmed and destroyed, in spite of all the
exertions that were made to save them. Nor
was the situation of the cows and horses
much better; for, although the disease was
to them not equally fatal, yet they became
excessively lean, and, even in the best season
of the year, the cows gave scarcely any milk.
It was the same beyond the West Skaptefield
district, and, indeed, nearly throughout the
•
VOLCANOES.
231
the whole island. It was still farther re-
marked in different parts of Iceland, during
the summer of 1783, that the sheep, in
direct opposition to the experience of the
inhabitants, and to the supposed natural
propensity of the animals themselves, avoided
the dry elevated places, and even the heaths
and commons, which most abounded in rich
grass; and, as soon as they were driven up
to the heights, snuffed at the earth and
searched among the grass, but without
tasting it: then immediately turning round,
ran to the morasses and wet places. The
cause of this I attribute to the circumstance
of the ashes and sulphureous dust having
had a more permanent influence upon the
elevated pasturage, than upon the herbage in
moist and low situations, where a proportion
of the ashes and sand must have sunk into
the water, and where, besides, the grass,
when rain fell, must have been much pu-
rified and refreshed. It may possibly be
objected to this, that the rain would naturally
also produce the same beneficial effects in
the higher grounds; but it is on the other
hand to be remarked that the grass and
herbage on heaths and commons, where
น
232
APPENDIX. C.
sheep principally delight to go, is small and
short. Consequently, as often as a heavy
rain fell upon the ashes and sulphureous
dust here collected, these were converted
into a kind of paste which could not pene-
trate the soil; so that all vegetation was co-
vered with it: whereas, in the morasses, this
paste was gradually dissolved in the watery
soil, and, as the grass in such situations ge-
nerally rises to a considerable height, the
mixture of ashes only affected the lower part
of it. This I therefore consider to be the
cause why the sheep, during the summer of
1783, uniformly sought the moist places;
and it may farther be added, that they there
in some degree found a shelter from the
penetrating cold and frequent tempests,
which are much more prevalent in the hilly
country than down in the vallies.
In addition to the inflammatory disease
just mentioned as so fatal to the sheep: so
early as the commencement of autumn, 1783,
when they were collected from the hills,
several of them were found to be attacked
with a distemper hitherto unknown to the
natives. The poor animals could neither
VOLCANOES.
233
walk nor stand: their teeth were loose, so as
to prevent them from chewing their food:
their cheeks were full of swellings; and their
joints were contracted. Towards Christmas
the sickness began to shew itself in a still
greater degree, even among the stall-fed
sheep, and also among the horned cattle,
which rendered it necessary for them to be
slaughtered. Many, however, fell victims
to the distemper much sooner than was
expected, when the disease attacked them
internally. Thus it was often found that
the heart, liver, lungs, and kidnies of these
miserable animals were covered on all sides
with boils and ulcers: they were in some
cases much swollen, in others quite de-
stroyed and hollowed out: one of the kid-
nies was frequently considerably distended,
while the other was proportionably shrivelled,
The jaw-bones were perforated, as if they
had been bored with an instrument, and the
ribs were knit together in a most extra-
ordinary manner. The bones were reduced
to a substance resembling gristle, and even
the hardest became at the joints so tender,
that they might easily be separated from
each other. When the entrails, that had
234
APPENDIX. C.
been diseased, were boiled, they shrivelled
very remarkably, and, if merely rubbed
between the fingers, turned at once to
powder. Of these particulars I was an eye-
witness; for, when we arrived in Iceland, in
the middle of the month of April, 1784,
this plague was in its full vigor, and I can
with truth assert, that the greater number of
the cattle then alive on the island fell vic-
tims to the distemper during my stay there.
Having said thus much concerning the sick-
ness of the quadrupeds, I will only add,
that it has been generally more destructive
among the sheep than the horned cattle, and
that there are some parishes, amongst which
are Muhle and Rangervalle, and others in the
west country, where the latter have been
comparatively but little affected.
According to information that we have
received, the disorder has in some degree
made its appearance in the districts of
Guldbringue and Kiose, and likewise in va-
rious places in the west country; but still
its greatest ravages have been in Skaptefield,
Aarnes, Borgefiorde, Myre, and Hnappedal,
and, indeed, through the whole of the
VOLCANOES.
235
north of the island. From the east no
intelligence has yet been received of its
having broken out there. In some horses,
which I had the opportunity of seeing
during my journey to the place of the
eruption, the distemper exhibited the same
external appearances as in the other cattle;
but the teeth in those that I examined were
not yet become loose. It was a melancholy
sight to see the miserable and deplorable
state to which these poor creatures were
reduced. In one instance, in particular,
it was really astonishing how the wretched
animal could walk, or even stand upon its
legs, and yet its owners, in the confusion
and distress, occasioned by their flight from
the spot, were under the necessity of laying
a burthen upon it. No striking external
marks of the disorder were perceptible among
the horses, out of the district of Skaptefield,
but it has nevertheless prevailed therc, if not
as the sole cause, yet certainly in union with
others, to produce a general destruction both
among them and the horned cattle: many
having died suddenly, when they had a
plentiful supply of hay; others when in pas-
tures where there was a sufficiency of grass,
236
APPENDIX. C.
of which they were never deprived either by
ice or snow. To our utter astonishment,
we saw horses in the most miserable state of
leanness, in the richest meadows, and even
actually starved to death, having preferred
eating substances the most injurious, such
as the wood of houses, the hair from each
other's coats, or whatever else was within their
reach, rather than touch the grass of last
year's crop, still remaining in the pastures.
This appears to me to be a sufficient proof
of the poisonous state of the herbage, during
the year 1783; and, although the circum-
stance has not yet been investigated, I am
fully convinced that the entrails of the
horses, have been equally, with those of
other animals, infected with the distemper.
The few inhabitants, who had still left
them some of the old hay, of the year 1782,
preserved their cattle in a healthy and good
condition; but even here, when the new hay
came into use, the disease began to appear
among them.
I have farther to remark, that, during
the last summer, several of the younger
VOLCANOES.
237
beasts were recovered by feeding upon the
new grass.
It might seem contradictory, were I here
to assert, that the whole destruction among
the cattle is to be considered merely as an
effect of the volcanic eruption; because I
have before stated, that, in certain districts,
which were within the operation of the fire,
no particular distemper has yet made its
appearance. I must, nevertheless, still main-
tain my opinion, that the fire has mostly
contributed towards it: since this was, beyond
a doubt, the cause of the unwholesome air
and frequent tempests, as well as of the
failure of the crops of grass and hay, in the
summer of 1783.
The cattle had, at the close of that season,
become remarkably lean, and consequently,
were rendered unfit to withstand the rigors
of the ensuing winter, one of the most
severe hitherto known. The inhabitants had
not, by any means, a sufficiency of provender
for them; nor were they aware, at first, of
the unwholesome and poisonous quality of
that which they did possess. It may be
238
APPENDIX. C.
easily supposed, that the inclemency of the
weather greatly contributed to the de-
struction, although the fire itself was the
principal and original cause of it."
The extent of the injury which Iceland
has suffered by the loss of her cattle it is
impossible at present accurately to ascertain;
as no correct statement has hitherto been
made of what have died, or of what are
still remaining. I annex, however, the fol-
lowing table, which is extracted from official
information, and from lists that have been
transmitted to the Royal Treasury, by the
proper officers, merely for the purpose of
specifying, though in a general way, a
part of the destruction. This table, not-
withstanding its imperfections, inasmuch
as it does not extend to the whole country,
and is besides too vague, and not sufficiently
explicit in particulars for some of the
districts, nevertheless, proves that, as Ranger-
valle, Skagefiord, and Borgefiord, had, in
proportion to their size and population, the
greatest quantity of cattle and sheep, of all
the districts therein specified, so they have
also sustained the greatest loss, and thence
TABLE.
Died 1783-1784.
Remaining in 1784.
The former Number 1783.
DISTRICTS.
Horses.
Horned Sheep.
Horses.
Horned
Sheep.
Horses.
Horned
Sheep.
Cattle.
Cattle.
Cattle.
Northern Muhle
581
128
8718
383
364
4806
964
492
13524
Southern Muhle
479
88
7785
Eastern Skaptefields
(a)
210
27
1813
Western Skaptefields (b)
415
226
3347
Rangervalle
4137 1120
32631
Kiose
838 386
5000
223
499
1174
1061
885
6174
Borgefiord
1806 772
11581
432
759
1767
2238
1531
13348
Myhre
1453
795
7020
179
426
751
1632
1221
7771
Hnappedals
345
154
2966
120
174
507
465
328
3473
Snæfieldnes (c)
697
245
3616
339
398
3243
1036
633
6859
Dale (d)
973
370
9068
Bardestrand (e)
405
147
3269
Isefiord
(f)
258
Hunevand
2612
768
11149
Skagefiord
3225
1127
16018
Oefiord
1469 674
9314
Total
19488 6801
129947
1908 3064
14400
8448
5917
59916
(a.) This statement merely belongs to two parishes in the district, Biarnanes and Hofells; no accounts having been as yet received from
the other parishes.
(b.) What cattle have died, or what still remain, in the district of Western Skaptefield, we have not yet been able to ascertain it is only
at present known that the farm-houses burnt, damaged, or deserted, at Siden, as also at Fliotshverfet, Skaptartungen, and part of
the Medalland, had, previous to the eruption, a stock of about the number stated, of which a very few are now remaining.
(c.) No information has yet been received from the parishes of Helgefields and Biarnerhavns, in this district, concerning the number dead
or remaining.
(a.) Among the number of sheep stated to have died in Dale, the lambs are not reckoned. Of the number still remaining in this district,
we can only speak to those in the two parishes, Staderhols and Hvams, which amounted to 93 horses, 151 cows, and 450 sheep.
(e.) From five parishes in the district of Barderstrand, Muhle, Flatoc, Ottardals, Sandlaugsdals, and Saurboes, no information has yet been
received concerning what have died, or what are still remaining.
(f) That 258 horses have died in seven vicarages in the district of Isefiord, is the only information yet received from that part.



VOLCANOES.
239
a similar inference may be drawn as to the
parts unnoticed. According to the infor-
mation that we have obtained, the northern
districts have not suffered less than the rest,
and their present deplorable condition may
be put on a parallel with that of Western
Skaptefield.
Effects upon the
§ XXXIII.
That the eruption had like-
human frame. wise a powerful effect on the
human frame is certain, and is the less to be
wondered at, as the unwholesome and pesti-
lential air operating together with the noxious
water and food, and with the want and di-
stress occasioned by the destruction of the
cattle, must naturally be productive of sick-
ness and distempers. Diseases of the most
inveterate kinds, in the form of scurvy,
broke out in sundry places, and those even
far distant from the fire: as, for instance,
in the districts of Guldbringue, Borgefiord,
and Myhre, especially in the first. The
district of West Skaptefield was, however,
the chief seat of this distemper; and in
only six parishes there, no less than one
hundred and fifty persons were carried off
1
'
240
APPENDIX. C.
}
མེཀཱ པ
7
between the commencement of the new year
and the month of June following; but some
of these perished by famine. The same
symptoms shewed themselves, in this
disorder, in the human race, as among
the cattle. The feet, thighs, hips, arms,
throat, and head, were
head, were most dreadfully
swelled, especially about the ankles, the
knees, and the various joints, which last,
as well as the ribs, were contracted. The
sinews, too, were drawn up, with painful
cramps, SO that the wretched sufferers
became crooked, and had an appearance
the most pitiable. In addition to this,
they were oppressed with pains across the
breast and loins; their teeth became loose,
and were covered with the swollen gums,
which at length mortified, and fell off in
large pieces of a black or sometimes dark
blue color. Disgusting sores were formed
in the palate and throat, and not uncom-
monly at the extremity of the disease, the
tongue rotted entirely out of the mouth.
This, dreadful, though, apparently, not very
infectious, distemper, prevailed in almost
every farm in the vicinity of the fire dur-
ing the winter and spring; but, happily,
7
VOLCANOES.
241
its extreme horrors were confined to the
district of West Skaptefield, beyond which
it was attended with less melancholy con-
sequences. Many of the unfortunate in-
habitants, who resided in the vicinity of the
place of eruption, and who could not pro-
cure either medicine or assistance, were
starved to death; from an utter incapability
of swallowing during the prevalence of
the disorder any portion of food, even if
they could obtain it, which was not often
the case. On the farm of Nupstad, in the
Fliotshverfet, which was the only one of
all that remained inhabited, till the spring
of 1784, the distemper attacked every in-
dividual among the inhabitants, not leaving
a single person in health to assist and
comfort the sick with the necessary at-
tendance. Report goes even so far as to
state, that several persons had been lying
dead in their houses for a considerable
time, before any intelligence of their decease
could reach Siden, the nearest station; and
that the information was at length conveyed
by some travellers from the east country,
who accidently stopped at Nupstad, and there
VOL II.
R
242
APPENDIX. C.
heard from the few survivors of the distress-
ing situation of the district. Both there,
and at Horgsland, and, indeed, at some
other places, it was necessary to burn the
bodies upon the spot; since there were no
horses left, and but few persons who were
able to convey the deceased to the church.
I ought indeed to add, that the circum-
stance of the earth being frozen to a con-
siderable depth, as well during the winter
as the spring of 1784, made a measure of
this kind the more indispensible; the few
that were free from disease being so en-
feebled by hunger, that they had by no
means strength sufficient to break up the
indurated ground, and open graves for so
great a number of bodies as now required
interment. As often, therefore, as burial
was at all resorted to, six, seven, eight,
and even ten bodies were placed in one
grave, and, for the sake of sparing exertions
that they were little able to encounter, this
was frequently so shallow as barely to al-
low a covering of earth above the lid of
the coffin. That the air, from such a mode
of interment, must soon become corrupted

VOLCANOES.
243
and dangerous for the human race, especi-
ally in the summer season, is a fact that
speaks for itself.
It is necessary for me here to remark,
that the disorder principally attacked those
who had previously suffered from want and
hunger, and who had protracted a misera-
ble existence by eating the flesh of such
animals (not even excepting horses) as had
died of the same distemper *, and by having
recourse to boiled skins and other most
unwholesome and indigestible food. From
respect to my readers I forbear to enume-
rate a variety of other things, which, as
articles of food, were in an equal or greater
degree nauseous and disgusting, and which,
were I to detail them, would serve to show
what shocking expedients the extreme crav-
ings of appetite will drive men to have
recourse to, and how that it is possible to
convert almost every thing to food.
* I have been assured, in the district of Skaptefield,
that the flesh and milk of sick animals had a remark-
ably unpleasant taste, and that, in particular, the milk
was of an unusually dark and yellow color.
244
APPENDIX. C.
1
Some of the inhabitants, during the whole
course of the winter, had not the least mor-
sel of any kind of fresh or wholesome vic-
tuals, nor were they able to procure any
other beverage than the water, which had been
corrupted by the mixture of ashes and
sulphur-dust. It was not all, however, even
in this case, who died, but some recovered
after having, in the course of the following
summer, had a fresh supply of cows, and
some provisions conveyed to them from the
sea-coast, and after the pastures once more.
afforded them their wonted supply, being
again covered with good grass and herbage,
among which last were the various kinds
of sorrel (Rumex Acetosa and other species)
and the dandelion (Leontodon Taraxacum),
of which the natives made spoon-meat.
In my endeavors to ascertain the nature
and origin of this distemper, I have not
relied solely on my own judgment, but
have solicited information on the subject
from my valuable friend, our learned Pro-
fessor, Kratzenstein, who deduces it from
the same causes, and classes it with the
+
VOLCANOES.
245
same disorders, as Professor Callisen, to
whose goodness I am indebted for the fol-
lowing remarks:
"The epidemic distemper, which broke
out in Iceland in the vicinity of the vol-
canic eruption, appears to me, from all its
attendant symptoms, to be entirely of a
scorbutic and putrid nature, and exactly
corresponding with the appearances which
I have observed to accompany the highest
degree of scurvy in cold climates. It un-
doubtedly owes its origin to bad provisions
and water, and to the deprivations to which
the unhappy inhabitants of the district were
subjected. It is therefore most natural to
suppose, and experience confirm the sup-
position, that no other remedy or relief
could be found for these wretched people
but a meliorated diet of fresh vegetables
and fresh animal food."
General con-
§ XXXIV.
The volcanic eruption having
sequences. thus been productive of devas-
tation and sickness, both among man and
beast, a great famine and unexampled mi-
246
APPENDIX. C.
sery throughout the country, naturally en-
sued. The peasant, who, with the loss of
his cattle, was likewise deprived of his sole
means of subsistence, and of the best and
most valuable part of his property, had no-
thing else (after having eaten the animals
that died by famine and sickness) where-
with to satisfy the painful cravings of
hunger, but skins and old hides, which
he then boiled and devoured. Many, driven
to the last extremity, have killed the few
healthy cattle and sheep that still remained,
and afterwards, when these were consumed,
wandered with their whole families down to
the sea-side, where they have become an
intolerable burthen and source of impoverish-
ment to the inhabitants of the coast. At
the same time, too, that the uplands are
become desolate, the condition of the in-
habitant of the coasts is so much the more
pitiable; as he can no longer continue his
laborious toil through storms and frosts, with
vigor and energy, unable as he is, to ob-
tain the smallest quantity of butter or other
strengthening articles of food to add to his
present wretched fare; and being reduced to
water, too, as his only drink; since whey,
VOLCANOES.
247
which was his usual beverage, is denied
him. All this, as is known by long and
sad experience in Iceland, renders the fisher-
men weak and disspirited, and unfits them
for their ordinary occupations: thus, each
hanging on each, the misery that began
with one runs through all. The want of
skins for sea-clothing will likewise for some
years be a great obstacle to the carrying
on of the fisheries with advantage; for
although, since the mortality among the
cattle, there is so great a quantity of hides
in the country that they are considered as
scarcely of any value, yet it is a well-
known fact that those of animals which
have died of hunger are in general unfit
for use, and these, therefore, will neither
answer the purpose of making coats or
even of being manufactured into the shoes
in use in the country.
The loss of the horned cattle and sheep
was very severely felt by the Icelanders,
but that of the horses was equally so, espe-
cially by the inhabitauts of the interior of
the country, who thus found themselves de-
248
APPENDIX. C.
prived of their last resource, the means of
having provisions and other necessaries con-
veyed from the coast, through long and te-
dious roads. Nay, many who are totally
destitute of horses are under the necessity
of carrying every load of hay into the out-
houses upon their own backs, and frequently
from a very considerable distance. Nor is
there any prospect of these invaluable ani-
mals being soon replaced.
In the district of West Skaptefield, where
a great proportion of the people had no-
thing, during the whole of the winter of
1784, but the most unwholesome food, and
consequently became subject to the disor-
ders which have just been described, num-
bers of people necessarily perished, and,
out of seventy families that dwelt nearest
to the fire and forsook their homes, not
more than one half are still remaining in
the district, the other thirty-five having
fled to other districts, where a few of them
have continued, while a part wandered
about the country, and the rest are dead.
It is now fully ascertained that the farms
@
VOLCANOES.
249
already burnt, damaged, or destroyed, were, at
the commencement of the fire, inhabited by
four hundred and nine persons in the whole.
With the exception of the district of
Western Skaptefield, it does not appear
that any part of the island has suffered so
much as Tingoe, in the northern district,
where a great mortality happened both
among men and cattle, insomuch that (ac-
cording to statements transmitted to the
Royal Treasury) seven
hundred persons
lost their lives by famine and want. One
hundred also have perished in Skagefiord,
and three hundred and fifty-five in Oefiord.
In the parish of Norder-Muhle more than
one hundred died last year of the same
disorder; and, if we calculate the number
of those that have died in the district of
West Skaptefield only at forty-five, the
whole amount of those that have lost
their lives by famine (of whom lists have
been sent in) will be thirteen hundred.
The general distress in the northern coun-
try has been exceedingly great, as it has
also been in Borgefiord and Myrer, in the
250
APPENDIX. C.
southern and western districts. It is, how-
ever, much to be dreaded that a still
greater famine and mortality have visited
the country, or at least particular parts of
it, during the last winter, that of 1785,
when it was scarcely in the power of man
to alleviate the calamity *.
§ XXXV.
The prevalence of violent earthquakes,
as well as of the fire itself, and the extra-
ordinary destruction occasioned by these in
the district of West Skaptefield, are cir-
cumstances which are rendered sufficiently
apparent in Fliotshverfet by the
by the great
chasms in the earth, which are there par-
ticularly abundant. It has been before re-
marked (§ Ix.) that earthquakes were more
violent before the fire broke out, but that
from the period of the eruption they gra-
dually subsided; so that in the year 1784
the shocks were weak and scarcely per-
* The total number of persons that have perished in
Iceland, in consequence of the volcanic eruption,
amounted, as the Etatsroed himself has assured me,
to nine thousand.
H.
1
VOLCANOES.
251
ceptible, excepting only for two days be-
fore I left the country, the 14th and 16th
of August. It was in the afternoon of the
former day, between four and five o'clock,
that the whole house at Inderholme, in the
district of Borgefiord (where I was then
staying) began to tremble; and, as we ex-
pected nothing else than that it would in-
stantly fall in, we naturally ran out. When
I looked up to the steep mountain, called
Akrafiel, to the northward of the farm-house,
I perceived its whole south side ob-
scured by a vast body of smoke, arising
from the fragments of rock which were
continually falling. In another place, a
little below the farm-house, large masses
were broken off a lofty ridge of rock that
rose near the sea; yet, thanks to God,
there was no damage done at this place.
On the following night several slight agita-
tions were perceptible both to myself and
other people then in the farm-house, suffi-
cient indeed to rouse me from my sleep,
though not to cause any serious alarm;
but on the 16th we had again a long and
dreadful shock, almost as heavy as the for-
mer had been.
252
APPENDIX. C.
7
This earthquake was most violently felt
in the district of Aarnes, and has there
also caused the greatest destruction, espe-
cially in the diocese of Skalholt, where,
excepting the cathedral, only two small
buildings are reported to have escaped with-
out damage. All the rest, and among
them the houses belonging to the college,
were either entirely thrown down or materi-
ally injured. Some persons, who were buried
in the ruins, were happily immediately dug out
without having sustained any injury. The
bishop, Mr. Finsen, and his lady, who,
together with the rest of the inhabitants
belonging to the episcopal residence, had
long been obliged to lie under tents, in
consequence of the constant succession of
rain and tempestuous weather, were now
reduced to the necessity of taking flight
with their whole family; it being impossi-
ble to rebuild their palace before the win-
ter came on. The timbers, in falling in,
had broken, and were rendered unfit for
use; nor were any horses to be procured
for the fatiguing task of conveying fresh
beams from the mercantile towns, situated
at a distance.
VOLCANOES.
253
The whole of the houses belonging to
the Episcopal See of Skalholt having been
in this manner destroyed, the University was
necessarily neglected during the following
winter. In the parish of Skeide, in the
district of Aarnes, we are informed that
all the farm-houses, two only excepted, had
fallen to the ground, and that three persons
in this district had lost their lives by the
earthquakes. Besides which, these destruc-
tive earthquakes had every where caused
great mischief, not only in this district,
but also in the western part of Range-
valle, and, according to accounts that have
been received, have damaged two hundred
and fifty farm-houses on the estate belonging
to the Bishopric of Skalholt, besides eleven
churches, and have totally thrown down
six other churches. On the other hand,
both in the eastern district, and likewise at
Vestmannoe *, as well as over the whole
* According to Mr. Sysselman Sivertsen's informa-
tion, transmitted to the Royal Treasury, at the first
shock which took place on the 14th of August, large
rocks were torn from the mountains, and fell down on
Vestmannoe, which was covered with smoke from the
base to the summit: and, as the smoke arose from
254
APPENDIX. Č.
of the south country, although they have
been very perceptible, yet they have not
caused any great devastation. How far
they may at the same time have been felt
with any violence in the district of Skapte-
field is not yet known here: thus much
only we can say with certainty, that some
slight shocks had been perceived in the
beginning of the month of August, at which
time, the smoke appeared to have gathered
strength in the wild and mountainous dis-
tricts to the northward of Siden.
I am well aware that many people may
be led to conjecture that these earthquakes
must have proceeded from great revolutions
in the bowels of the earth, or even possibly
from the circumstance of new eruptions hav-
ing taken place in the vicinity of the for-
several places at once, it was natural for the neigh-
boring peasantry to be in great apprehension of more
general destruction; but, nevertheless, no other re-
markable damage appears to have been sustained
than that of the largest and most valuable part of the
Bird-mountain (a hill of the greatest value to the in-
habitants), having been cleft and thrown down, and
consequently rendered unserviceable for lodging the
nests of the sca-fowl in future.
VOLCANOES.
255
mer fire, and therefore must in that district
have caused the greatest destruction. But,
for my own part, I should rather be tempt-
ed to believe that, as these latter shocks
were most violent in the district of Aarnes,
weaker in Rangevalle and other southern
districts, and so slight as to be scarcely per-
ceptible either in the northern or the western
parts of the island, that they owed their
origin to some internal commotion in the
earth, in the vicinity of Hecla; if they are
not (which God forbid) a prelude to an
eruption of the mountain itself.
It has also been shewn, that the annals of
Iceland cannot produce an instance of an
earthquake equally destructive as that just
mentioned, which, exclusively of its having
in a manner destroyed whole parishes and
districts, has also reduced many of the in-
habitants of the district of Aarnes to the
most deplorable state, as the small stock of
meat, and particularly of the common ar-
ticles of food, such as butter, &c., which
they had with the greatest difficulty secured
during the preceding summer, were by this
deplorable calamity spoiled by being buried
256
APPENDIX. C.
under the ruins of the habitations: but
above all it is to be lamented that this
misfortune should take place just at the
season of hay-making. The want of horses,
too, is a circumstance very distressing to the
country in general, and to the places de-
stroyed by the earthquakes in particular,
since, as observed above, without the assist-
ance of these animals, the inhabitants can
neither procure the timber necessary for
building, nor any supply of provisions from
the sea coast. It is therefore much to be
feared that several of the farm-houses that
are damaged must, for the present, remain
uninhabited; especially as the hay has been
almost entirely destroyed by this sudden
misfortune, and by the long continuance
of rainy weather following almost immedi-
ately upon it.
A consequence of these severe earthquakes
has been, that the face of the country appears
to be heaved up in the form of billows, and
during the continuance of the shock it look-
ed as if covered with a dark cloud of dust.
All waters, as well the flowing as the stag-
nant ones, were sensibly disturbed and be-
VOLCANOES.
257
<
came white as milk; but the rivers them-
selves resembled the most furious mill-
streams. Many Hverar, or boiling-springs,
and other brooks and pools were dried up,
though some of these after a while again
made their appearance in fresh places. The
hot-springs about the Geyser, and above all
the Geyser itself spouted out its torrents with
a fury never before witnessed, and the same
was also the case with the springs of this
kind about Skalholt. It is very remarkable
that, in the very place where I bored into
the ground between these spots last year,
there has sprung up, according to Bishop
Finsen's account, dated the 14th of August
following, a fresh fountain of boiling water.
We are also informed that the pastures in
the district of Aarnes had, by these shocks
in the ground, suffered such convulsions,
that all the moss growing in damp places
was forced out of the soil, and lay so thick
upon the grass that scarcely any more hay
could be cut; whilst in hard and dry
places great cracks and apertures, nay, in
some spots, even deep holes were formed in
the earth.
VOL. II.
ID
258
APPENDIX. c.
A new island arising
from the sea.
§ XXXVI.
In conclusion I have to
add, that for a whole month
previous to the volcanic eruption in the
district of West Skaptefield, in 1783, a great
fire was seen arising from the sea off the
south-west coast of Iceland, and this was
rendered visible to mariners, at the distance
of six or eight Danish miles, by the vast
body of smoke that proceeded from it. The
sea around for twenty or thirty Danish miles
was filled with pumice-stones to such a de-
gree that they were no small obstruction to
the progress of shipping. Of these pumice-
stones, which were driven upon the southern
coast in great quantity and in different
places, I myself have found several here
and there at Akranes, in the district of Bor-
gefiord, and principally at Inderholme. But
this is not all; for, by the force of the sub-
terraneous fire, a new island has arisen from
the sea, which was seen throwing out a vast
quantity of fire by some mariners on their
passing this coast early in the month of May,
1783. By the nearest estimate they could
make, this island lay in about 63° 20" of
VOLCANOES.
259
north latitude, and in about 354° 20″ of
longitude, at the distance of seven or eight
Danish miles south-west by the true com-
pass from the outermost of the Fugle-skiers
off Reikanes. Masters of vessels, who have
sailed very close to this island, do not agree
in their reports concerning its extent, some
of them having calculated it at one mile in
circumference, whereas others have described
it as being only one-third of a mile or very
little more.
The island is stated to con-
sist of high rocks, in the rifts of which in
two or three different places was burning
a strong fire, which at intervals, as it burst
forth, threw up a considerable quantity of
pumice-stones.
At about one and one-third Danish miles
by the compass from this place a sunken
rock was also discovered, over which the
* By later accounts we learn that this island was in
the course of a twelvemonth reduced to a sunken rock,
extremely dangerous to navigators. It is mentioned
at p. 8 of this Journal.
H.
† As I have not in any other work met with informa-
tion respecting this sunken rock, it seems to me not
ก
260
APPENDIX. C.
sea broke very heavily. By soundings taken
when near the island it was ascertained that,
at the depth of forty-two fathoms, the
ground consisted of a kind of calcined stone-
dust, which shone like pit-coal. At one
place they had more than one hundred fa-
thom of water, when only at the distance
of half-a-mile E. N. E. from the island.
This island, to which His Royal Majesty
has been graciously pleased to bestow the
name of Nyoe (New Island) has not been
seen this year by mariners: and though the
ships in which Mr. Levetzen, Mr. Bulow,
and myself went to the country and returned
to Copenhagen, had express orders to search
for it, we were still unable to discover it;
notwithstanding that during our outward
bound passage we continued cruising back-
wards and forwards for a long time in the
latitude where we might expect to fall in
with it. So that, if I may be permitted
to draw any conclusion from this circum-
stance, it would be this: that Nyoe has sunk
unlikely that it is only the remains of the island just
before described, which, as will hereafter be mentioned,
is now scarcely to be seen at high water. H.
VOLCANOES.
261
into the sea in the same manner as it rose a
year ago."
While engaged in preparing this part of
my work for the press, Sir Joseph Banks
has been kind enough to send me a valuable
Danish publication on the coasts and harbors
of Iceland. It was printed at Copenhagen,
1788, and is entitled Beskrivelse over den
Islandske Kyst og alle Havne fra Fugle-
skiærene og til Stikkelsholm i Bredebug-
ten med Forklaring over deres Indseiling,
ved P. de Löwenörn. From this I shall ex-
tract not only that part which concerns the
New Island, mentioned by Mr. Stephensen
in the beginning of the last section of his
pamphlet, but also that which relates to the
whole of the Fugle-Skiærene, as I consider
the account of them too interesting, and the
nautical information relative to them too
important, to allow either of these to be
omitted.
.
"From Cape Reykenes five single rocks,
rising above the water, stretch out to the
s. w. by w., by the true compass, and are
1
262
APPENDIX. C.
called Fugle-Skiærene (or the Bird-rocks).
The one which is nearest the land, and lies
close under Reykanes, is called Carls-klippe:
it is very dark, and has much the appearance
of a church with pointed steeples. The
distance between this and the second rock,
called Eld-Ey* (or the Flour-bag), is one
and a half Danish miles. Between these
islands is the best channel and that which is
most generally used. One may likewise pass
between the other Fugle-Skiærs, if there is
a tolerably fresh breeze; but the sea breaks
very heavily, especially in spring tides, and
may cause broken seas and put the vessel to
great danger,
}
* Eld-Ey, or Ild Oe. The Icelanders call these rocks
by the general appellation of El-Eyranne, or Ild-öerne
(Fire islands), probably thereby intending to intimate
that they have formerly been volcanoes, and have been
produced by revolutions similar to those that have
happened in the East Indies, in the Archipelago, at Si-
cily, and many other places, and very lately in Iceland
1783, with the Blinde Fugle-Skiar, as it is called;
which, although it afterwards sank again and there-
fore justly bears the name of the Blinde Skiær (that
is, sunken rock), may probably by some future con-
vulsion again raise itself high above the water. More
will presently be said concerning this Blinde Fugle-
Skiær.
1
VOLCANOES.
263
If opportunity offers I should always con-
sider it safest to go between Carls-klippe and
the Flour-bag, whether in coming from the
eastward to the western harbors in Iceland,
or in going from Iceland to the southward;
both because the course is shorter and there
are more certain sea marks. When clear of
the Fugle-Skiærs, you must be on your
guard, more especially if you turn to wind-
ward, against a dangerous sunken rock,
called the Blinde Fugle-Skiær, of which I
shall immediately have occasion to make
mention.
I have laid down the Fugle-Skiærene,
with regard to their situation between them-
selves and from Reikanes, according to
Minor's description, with a few inconsidera-
ble corrections from M. de Verdun's observa-
tions, and from a great number of bearings
which I had the opportunity of taking, both
when going to Iceland and on my return.
The outermost of the Fugle-Skiærs,
which is called in the Icelandic language,
Gier Fugla-Skiærdrange, and by Minor,
Grenadeer-Huen (the Grenadier's-cap), lies,
264
APPENDIX. C.
as nearly as can be ascertained by bearings
taken from the sea, five and three-quarters
Danish miles s. w. by w. by the true com-
pass from the point of Reikanes, and con-
sequently in 63° 44′ 40′ latitude and in
the longitude of 25° 35′ 40″.
Lieutenant Grove has, near this place,
had an observation in the latitude of 63°
44′ 20″ and on my homeward voyage, in
sailing past it, I likewise had an observa-
tion of latitude and longitude, which an-
swered very correctly to it. It is true that
by my observation it lay a couple of minutes.
more to the southward in latitude, and the
difference in longitude was likewise a cou-
ple of minutes, as it appeared to have been
laid down too far to the eastward: but I
have nevertheless left it unaltered with
regard to the distance it is found to be
from Reikanes, which must otherwise be
corrected accordingly. It cannot be ex-
pected that observations taken at sea should
correspond to so great a nicety, especially
as the weather was not very favorable; but
nevertheless I would not omit making this
remark.
VOLCANOES.
265
During the time that I remained at
Holmens-Havn, Lieutenant Grove went out
with a vessel under his command, for the
purpose of navigating about that spot where
the volcano island had made its appear-
ance, in the year 1783, in order to disco-
ver if it still existed, or if any vestiges of
it remained but he found nothing but
that which is called the Blinde Fugle-
Skiær.
:
According to several very probable and
well-founded suppositions, we have con-
cluded that this is precisely the same rock
which, in the year before mentioned, threw
out fire, and cast up so much pumice-stone,
that the navigators who passed the place.
found the sea covered with it. So long as
it continued burning, it appeared above the
water like a small island, which, as we
learn from the statements given by mari-
ners, who saw it that year, frequently al-
tered its appearance; a circumstance un-
doubtedly occasioned by the lava and pu-
mice-stone issuing from it; though it is
probable that these substances have not
been able to fix themselves firmly, but
266
APPENDIX. C.
were washed away again by the sea break-
ing heavily against them; so that by these
means the island that had started up, dis-
appeared and was not to be found the next
year, when orders were given to the out-
ward bound ships to look out for it. The
existence of the Blinde Fugle-Skiær, indeed,
has been for some time known, but its si-
tuation has been so uncertain, that many
people have gone so far as to doubt whe-
ther it actually existed, because they might
often sail past, and even cruise about, with-
out happening to see it. It is nevertheless
extremely dangerous; and it is a most im-
portant matter to ascertain correctly where
it lies, in order that we may be enabled to
use the needful precaution in avoiding it.
At the flow of the tide it is not visible,
unless there is a sea running sufficiently
high to break over it, and even then it is
necessary to be very near to perceive it;
but in the dark or in hazy weather it
would probably not be possible to avoid
it, should one be so unfortunate as to fall in
with it. At low water, and when the sea is
running off, about a cable's length off it
may be seen dry. The sea breaks for the
VOLCANOES.
267
length of two cables. Round about it, the
depth of water increases rapidly, and at the
distance of from two to eight cables' length
from it, the lead has shewn from twenty-
six to forty fathoms, with small burnt
stones resembling lava.
Lieutenant Grove observed the course and
distance from thence to the Grenadier's
Cap, or the outermost Fugle-Skiær; and
when, on my return homeward, an oppor-
tunity offered for me to sail through the
channel, I took numerous bearings to the
Grenadier's Cap, and thereby ascertained
my distance from it as correctly as it can
be done at sea. I then shaped my course
directly for the Blinde Fugle-Skiær; kept
the log going; steered with the utmost
diligence; and found the course from the
outermost Fugle-Skiær to it, to be exactly
the same as is laid down by Lieutenant
Grove, 47° from the south to the west by
the true compass, and the distance just
four Danish miles; consequently, according
to the situation of the Grenadier's Cap, it
lies in 63° 32′ 45″ and 26° 2′ 50″.
With clear weather, and especially if on
268
APPENDIX. C.
board a tolerably lofty vessel, when be-
tween the two, this rock may be seen, or
the breakers upon it, just at the time one
gets sight of the outermost Fugle-Skiær;
but if the weather is in the least degree
hazy, the vessel would be too far from the
Fugle-Skiær to enable a person to see it,
so long as the Blinde Fugle-Skiær was in
sight. When I approached the Blinde
Fugle-Skiær I determined, according to
the directions Lieutenant Grove had given
me, to steer directly for it, and, although
we consequently were continually in ex-
pectation of seeing it, yet we did not
discover it until we were only at the dis-
tance of a few cables' lengths, when we
saw the sea breaking over it.
Notwithstanding that I had not
not an
observation for the variation of the compass,
when close to the Fugle-Skiærene, yet I
can judge nearly to a certainty from other
observations, that, in the year 1786, it
was from 36° to 37° north-westerly; and,
as in the same year, I found it immedi-
ately on the western side of Shetland to
be 26°, it consequently follows that the
VOLCANOES.
269
0
variation between Shetland and Iceland is,
as nearly as can be calculated, for every
degree of longitude we go to the westward.
The variation increases very much after-
wards to the westward of Iceland, and
likewise when steering to the northward.
I have observed the variation in Faxe Bay,
and found it to be in the interior part of
it from 37° to 38°, and, at the outer ex-
tremity of the same bay, from 38° to 39°;
still higher, off Staal-bierg, the northern
point of Brede-Bughten (Broad Bay), it was
40° direct westerly. In the channel, under
65° of latitude, and 35° of longitude, I
found the variation by a series of observa-
tions, to be 45° 10″."
END OF APPENDIX. C.
A
L
APPENDIX. D.
ODES AND LETTERS
PRESENTED
BY THE LITERATI OF ICELAND
TO THE
RIGHT HONORABLE
SIR JOSEPH BANKS
AND THE
HONORABLE CAPTAIN JONES.
APPENDIX. D
ODES AND LETTERS.
THE ORIGINALS OF THE ODES WERE WRITTEN BOTH IN LATIN
AND ICELANDIC; THE LATTER, HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT
THOUGHT IT
IT NECESSARY TO INSERT, EXCEPT IN THE
INSTANCE OF THAT TO CAPTAIN JONES, WHICH IS GIVEN
AS A SPECIMEN OF THE LANGUAGE OF THE COUNTRY.
Nos. 1, 2, and 3 are Addresses to SIR JOSEPH BANKS from BIARNE JONESON,
and No. 4 a Letter from THEODORE JONESON.
No. 5 is a congratulatory Address from MAGNUS FINNUSEN
to CAPTAIN JONES.
N° 1.
HEKLA VALE ANGLIS HEROIBUS.
Auscultate,
Excelsi Jökli *.
Montes, tesqua,
In terrâ glaciali!
A
VOL. II.
I.
Me
Sapientes viri
Ambierunt quinque,
Omnes Britanni;
* Montana glacies.
T
274
APPENDIX. D.
}
II.
Valdè inclaruit
Inclytus BANKS,
Apud honestas nationes.
Inclytus SOLANDER,
Multi desiderant
Cum pulchro
Antiquam grandævam
Comitatu.
Oculis usurpare
Nunquam antea cumu- Et ulnis complecti.
lata sum
Prioribus seculis
Tanto honore
Ab Anglicâ gente.
III.
Juvenis priùs eram,
Nemo favebat
Elegans vir
Sola steti
V.
Me cùm viri elegantes
Convenerunt,
Amorem exhibui
Juvenibus Dominis.
Perreptavit me
Flamma amoris.
Nullum denegavi
Annulatæ Virgini;
Viris honorem.
VI.
Monstravi illis
Longo tempore,
Donec Vulcanus
Me exornavit *.
IV.
Hinc Nomen meum
Jam
Rubra Cimelia,
Pluresque alias,
Quas habui,
Eximias opes,
per terrarum orbem Quas olim nacta sum
* Primam Heklæ eruptionem quidam Annales ponunt ad
annum 1004; alii alitèr; si autem quot vicibus talia in
monte hoc contigerint incendia scire desideras, vicies ter id
factum esse creditur. Ab hoc tempore nobilitari imprimis
cæpit, antea minùs celebris.
HEKLÆ VALĖ.
275
Ex Vulcani
Admirandâ fabricâ.
VII.
Me sapientes
Manibus contrectârunt
Antiquam Virginem,
Dederunt et oscula.
Bene sit
Alacribus viris,
Qui me inviserunt
Ex australibus oris!
VIII.
Resideo jam
Tristi fronte
Vidua desolata.
Sæpe Lachrymas fundo,
Postquam mei
Insignes amici
Reliquerunt me
Fortunâ orbatam.
IX.
Longum dolorem
Corde premo.
Neminem habeo
Cui aperiam.
Si vero vocem sopitam
Altiùs extulerim,
Res mira videbitur
Et immanis strepitus
X.
Vale BANKS!
Vale SOLANDER!
Valete omnes
Alacres viri!
Nolite oblivisci
Annosæ virginis
Reduces
In Angliam.
XI.
Largior ventos secundos;
Largior fortunam;
Largior nomen
(celebre);
Largior splendorem.
Sedete hilares
Ad compotationes!
* Alluditur hìc ad horrendos et altisonos Heklæ strepitus
in eruptionibus.
+ Guma Minni (verba archetypi Islandici) propriè denotat
memoriales scyphos, clarorum virorum in compotationibus
276
APPENDIX. Ď.
HEKLA VALE
Carminis titulus sit.
Date Versificatori
Bibite Nomen
Virginis, Eloquentes!
XII.
Nunc ad finem deducta Dotem
est
Hæc cantiuncula;
In præmium poematis
Mihi convenientem.
evacuari solitos: hìc autem ipsa symposia.-Sub Ethnicismo
certa pocula certis Diis, Regibus, vel Heroibus, consecra-
bant Veteres, qui mos etiam post introductam religionem
Christianam, præsertimque inter solennitates nuptiarum,
apud nos religiosè fuit observatus. Sed, eliminatâ super-
stitione Papisticâ, in desuetudinem jam abierunt Scyphi isti
memoriales; ut Gudsrodurs minni, Dei Patris Scyphus; Hei-
lags anda minni, Sancti Spiritus Scyphus; Mariu minni,
Beatæ Virginis Scyphus; Marteins minni, Martini Turonensis
Scyphus, et id genus alia.
:
VOTUM.
277
N° 2.
PRO FELICI IN ISLANDIAM ITINERE ET IN
PATRIAM REDITU
MAGNATUM BRITANNORUM,
ANNO MDCCLXXII.
VOTUM.
Ludat hyperboreo Titan luculentus Olympo,
Lunaque nocturnos clara gubernet equos,
Et vehemens Boreas pluviæ frigusque facessant!
Cunctaque disfagiant, quæ nocuisse queunt!
Omine dum fausto Magni celebresque Britanni
Observant Thules vasta theatra soli;
Quæ contemplari felix mens enthea gestit
Perspiciat clarum Jova secundet iter.
Quo bene confecto, tandem felicitèr omnes
Restituat patriæ cura paterna Dei!
N° 3.
VIR CELEBERRIME!
Quòd me cum erudito tuo comitatu invisisti,
grates ago quàm maximas. Mitto tibi jam, Vir
humanissime, Carmen gratulatorium, paulo cor-
278
APPENDIX. d.
rectius auctiusque quàm antea, Nimis quidem
exiguum hoc est munusculum, longèque tuam
infra dignitatem positum, sed velis nihilo minus
benignâ id suscipere fronte, inque meliorem par-
tem interpretari, animum potius datoris quam
doni vilitatem respiciens; quâ de re eo certiorem
spem foveo, quo evidentiora humanitatis tuæ habeo
indicia; velim id typis vulgari permittas, in Ang-
liam, Deo duce, cum redieris. Adjici etiam posset
Versio Anglica, si ita visum fuerit; ut vestra in
gentem nostram merita eo clariora evadant, atque
hoc pacto in vulgus emanent. Iter vestrum ad
Heklam quomodo cesserit scire gestio; utinam
bene et ex animi sententiâ.
Deus te salvum et sospitem patriæ reddat, om-
nesque tuos gloriosos conatus secundet.
Vale, Vir humanissime, nostrique memor,
Felix diu vive.
Tui Nominis observantissimus,
Schalholti, IV. Calend. Octobr.
Anni MDCCLXXII.
t
BIARNUS JOHNEUS.
TRIPUDIUM.
279
TRIPUDIUM,
A Musis Schalholtensibus agitatum
In Adventu
Celeberrimi Herois
DNI. JOSEPHI BANKS,
Armigeri,
Qui ex Angliâ in Islandiam transfretavit
ad eruenda et observanda quæcunque intra
Pauperculæ hujus Insulæ limites in Regno
Naturæ observatu digna,
Unà cum ornatissimo et eruditissimo comitatu,
Cum Historiæ naturalis Doctore,
Magni Nominis et solidæ Eruditionis viro,
DRE DANIELE SOLANDER,
Cum Astronomo, cum Antiquario,
Cum tribus Pictoribus, duobus Scribis,
Capitaneo navali, et subcenturione,
Honoris et debitæ observantiæ ergo,
Anglo Heroi ejusque Comitibus oblatum
Schalholti, A MDCCLXXII.
x. Calend. Octobris.
A BIARNO JOHNEO,
Philosoph. Mag. et Schol. Schalholt. Rectore.
280
APPENDIX. D.
Fausto omine adsis
I.
1
Cordata gens ab oris Angliæ.
Primùm tibi gratulabunda assurgit
Glacialis terra cum applausu!
Mariti, uxores, liberi,
Gaudio perfusi tripudiant.
Cælum, Salum, Solum, Solitudo,
Resonant cum lætitiâ,
II.
Præstantes olim (Islandi),
Relictis patriis oris, Londinum studiosè petebant,
Artium addiscendarum cupidi,
Quas contenta libris eruditio commendat.
Oxoniæ in Anglico solo
Pedem hoc temporis tractu figere
Imprimis arridebat ;
Deinde fortunæ favore suffulti
Solum natale repetebant.
III.
Superioribus itidem sæculis
Magno animi robore,
Virorum multitudo
Ad Tamesis ripas direxit navem.
TRIPUDIUM.
281
Alacritèr non sine insigni fortitudine
Milvum Odini sanguine pascebant *;
Ulterius porrò progressi
Magnis Angliæ Regibus militabant.
IV.
Larga sæpe munera acceperunt†
Strenui isti bellatores;
Soli pro carminibus præmii loco
Magnis cumulati divitiis.
* Milvus Odini Corvum denotat, qui Odino sacer et ad-
modùm familiaris fuit, unde et ipse Corvorum Deus in Eddâ
et antiquâ Poesi dicitur.
† Sic, inter complures alios, Egillus Skallagrimi filius
Islandus, insignis bellator Adalsteni Angliæ Regis castra
secutus, fratrem suum Thorulfum in prælio quodam ibidem
amisit, unde, satisfactionis et stipendii loco, binas arcas ar-
gento repletas a Rege accepit ad patrem deferendas, quas
in Islandiam redux ipse retinuit, tandemque senex et lumi-
nibus sub mortem orbus, in palude quâdam submergebat.
Occisis ibidem, qui ipsum manu duxerunt, duobus servulis.
Prolixa hujus Athletæ vita, plurima etiam exotica hoc tem-
poris tractu gesta continens, Islandorum manibus hodiedum
teritur.
Poetæ fuerunt Islandi ab initio optimi, unde in ex-
terorum Regum et principum aulis, in sunimo semper honore
et luce versati sunt, pro Encomiasticis, quæ haud rarò tantis
282
APPENDIX. D.
Sedebant ultra mare
Compotationibus intenti,
Deinde honoribus aucti
Domum navibus remeabant.
V.
Sic etiam Anglorum naves appulere
Prisco tempore ad oras nostras,
Pretiosis vestibus et victu oneratæ,
Quod nos lucrum diu recordamur.
Vestes optimas lintea et funes
Nobis subministrârunt, usibus inservientia ;
Nunc Islandis negatum est
His bonis diutiùs frui *.
nominibus obtulerunt, carminibus larga sæpenumero munera
accipientes. Inter alios Thorarinus Lostunga, Laudans lingua
appellatus, pro cantilenâ in honorem Canuti Magni Daniæ
et Angliæ Regis confectâ, quam Hösudlausn, sive Capitis re-
demptionem vocavit, quinquaginta marcas argenti puri, mu-
neris loco, recepit, testante Knutidarum vitâ.
* Angli seculo quatuordecimo et sequentibus insignia cum
Islandis commercia exercuere, optimas semper nec unquam
adulterinas merces advehantes, unde haud rarò eorum mer-
catores in Islandiâ hyemârunt, domibus passìm in hos usus
exstructis. Ab iis qui ex Cambriâ huc appulerunt, loca quæ-
dam denominata sunt, ut Kumbravogur et sic porro. Hæc
Anglorum commercia per varia interdicta in desuetudinem
sensìm abierunt, jamque penitùs exspirârunt.
TRIPUDIUM.
283
VI.
Hùc jam bonæ frugis viri,
Ab occiduis oris vela dirigere
Non detrectant. Angli nimirùm,
In sinu Hafnarfiord subsistentes,
Plurimis cluentem artibus
Peritum itineris antesignanum
Opum datorem omnes fatentur
Unum Josephum laude præditum.
VII.
Summâ profectò cum laude
Dominus BANKS nil cunctatus est
Per vastos pelagi fluctus
Navem dirigere;
Gloriosus suo cum comitatu
Per tres annorum orbes,
Vero cum honore perlustravit
Varias mundi plagas *.
VIII.
Ignotas hoc pacto detexit
Insulas, id quod assevero,
In vastâ et vorticosâ maris serie,
Optimas plurimâ soli fertilitate;
* Profectus quippe Anno 1768, rediit in Angliam Anno 1771.
+ Mari scilicet pacifico, quod non immeritò dixeris, cùm.
à Japponia ad Mexico MD mill: perhibeantur.
284
APPENDIX. D. .
Harum una Otaheite, quam novimus,
Summâ amænitate conspicuam;
Ignorat imperium hyemis,
Omnigenâ felicitate circumdata*.
IX.
Lætus, per æquoreas undas
Navem aquilonem versus
Ventorum flatu celeritèr actam,
Nunc propellit pretiosarum vestium dator,
Desiderans terram sub zonâ frigidâ‡
Perlustrare (nemo id prohibeat!).
Dignatur, id quod admodùm miror,
Pauperrimam gentem invisere.
X.
Alterum SOLANDER asserimus,
Supremo illi honore proximum;
Hic optimis artibus excultus,
Ipsi Linnæo vix inferior §.
* Otaheite insula inter Americam et Asiam sita, ab armi-
gero Banks detecta, optimæ et benignissimæ naturæ, atque
proinde omnigenâ felicitate abundans. Invenit præterea
Nova Zelandiæ partem, in mari pacifico itidem sitam.
+ Epithetum poeticum viri largi et opulenti, quod in Ar-
migerum Banks optimè quadrat.
Quædam enim Islandiæ pars jacet sub zonâ frigida.
§ Illi nempe decantatissimo rerum naturalium scrutatori.
TRIPUDIUM.
285
Indolem rerum investigat;
Plerosque antecellens.
Elegantem naturæ mystam,
Eruditi proinde collaudant.
XI.
Ter trinos præterea deprehendimus,
Gentis decora, bonâ eruditione
Et artium disciplinâ,
Ut optimè convenit, instructos
Omnes pari elegantiâ,
Tam largo opum diribitori
Per terras passìm et maria
Faventes semper adhærent.
XII.
Quid causæ quòd huc direxistis vela
Artificiosè texta, aquilonem versus ?
Quid iter jam confectum causatur ?
Plusquam modica animi delectatio :
Herbas, lapides, oculi exposcunt:
Optimatum sapientiam alit
Sparsas per territoria conspicere
Ignitas Hekla montis scorias.
XIII.
Lunæ et lucidi Solis
Conjunctiones stellarumque orbes
286
APPENDIX. D.
Contemplantur admodùm sapientèr
Nobiles viri, ut ars augeatur.
Geiserem præterea convenire gestiunt *
Et, si quæ plura audiuntur,
Manuscripta antiquitatis monumenta
Conquirere student honesti viri, ut ritè intelligant.
XIV.
Impensas omnes magnifico sumptu
Sine cunctatione agere
Haud gravatur
Anglus ille Heros, prout expedit.
Distribuit largè, ut novimus,
Lachrymas Sororis Freieri aurum †,
* Geiser, Nom. propr: aquæ æstuantis in Toparchiâ Ar-
nesensi, australis Islandiæ, miræ profectò et reconditæ indolis;
hujus contemplationi Angli Nostri integrum fermè diem im-
penderunt. Nomen habet a verbo islandico ad giosa evomere,
ebullire; aquas enim per intervalla in altum evomit.
† In Eddâ et antiquâ Poesi Islandicâ, a Freyâ Odini uxore
plurima auri Epitheta deducta sunt; nam juxta veterem
Mythologiam lachrymæ Freyæ in aurum convertebantur ;
Pari modo, quod locuti sunt Jötna, seu Gigantes, in aurum
mutabatur, unde Jötna mal, Jötna tal, Gigantum sermo,
Gigantum loquela, pro auro apud Poetas haud rarò ponitur.
Aurum autem largè distribuere, jure dicitur Armiger Banks;
cùm non tantùm aureis sed et aliis pretiosis rebus Islandos
donaverit.
TRIPÚDIUM.
287
Eximias artes liberales promovet
Vir munificus magnæque dexteritatis.
Ambabus
ergo ulnis
Excipite nobiles viros;
XV.
Subministrate omnia ex animo,
Equos largè suppeditantes.
Monstrate viam, prout optimè nôstis;
Acceptissimos viros per terram deducite.
Musæ hilari animo
Canentes talia depromunt.
Salvete! (sic fari lubet)
XVI.
Ad nos venientes, illustres Domini,
Quibus fortuna favet,
Commendabiles sapientiæ luce,
Fortuna vobis aspiret;
Prosperè cedant omnia itinera;
Favor cæli et felicitas viris
Facem per gelidam terram præferant'
XVII.
Nigricantes formæ usum Oculorum
Fortibus Anglis non intercipiant!
1
288
APPENDIX. D.
F
Adspiret lucens sol!
Contingat itidem videre cursum Lunæ!
Lucidæ stellæ claro lumine splendeant!
Ut sciant omnia juxta institutum ordinem
De Siderum situ
Sub Polo Arctico *.
XVIII.
Recedite subitò ad mare,
Recedite subitò densæ nubes !
Pluvia, Caligo, pulverisque vis
Ita aufugiant, ut non appareant!
Fumi vehementia divitibus viris
In oculos nequaquàm irruat!
Nihil amplius molestiam facessat,
Nil amplius iter reddat impeditum!
XIX.
In supremum Hekla montis cacumen
Vestrum iter expediat
Fortuna laudem paritura,
Prout usibus vestris optimè inservit !
* Præprimis luminis borealis indolem ejusque causas eruere,
quod eo magis optandum, quo majore difficultate res ista la-
borat, cùm in tot sententiarum divortiis quid de phenomeni
hujus naturâ certo statuendum sit, adhuc ignoretur.
?
TRÌPUDIUM.
289
Ignis subterranei tecta latibula
Eruendi via vobis pateat
Adustosque lapides jacentes
In vastâ terræ superficie;
XX.
Herbas pretiosas disparuisse novimus,
Pallidæ quippe autumno emarcuere ;
Proinde hæ grato ornatu
Viros excipere nequeunt.
Honorem interim elegantibus exhibere
Virgulta norunt passìm obvia.
Sabula fluvii et quæ iis innatant
Iter beatorum collaudent!
XXI.
Negotia omnia in vestrum honorem
Prosperè vobis succedant!
Augescat artium ludus
In austro per vestrum iter!
Eloquentes viri cumulatum gaudium
Et utilitatem ex itinere reportent,
Cùm hinc tendit navis
Occidentem versus *!
* Ita nobis loqui liceat, venerandæ Antiquitatis exemplo,
quæ Angliæ, Scotia, Hiberniæ, Orcadumque incolas, Vest-
VOL. II.
U
290
APPENDIX. D.
Grates vobis agimus, Domini erecti animi,
Grates vobis haud cunctantèr agimus
Pro honore nobis præstito;
Qui nobis imprimis gratus est.
Oras nostras nunquam inviserunt
Britanni, ut memoriæ proditum est,
Pari in Universum eloquentiâ præditi
Parique eruditionis laude inclyti.
XXII.
Salvo et incolumi curru
Domum hinc revehamini;
Viros quippe Anglos
Angelorum læta cohors deducat;
Rata maneant vota nostra,
Et fausta quæ ominamur
Vobis ex intimo corde,
Optimates artibus instructi!
:
XXIII.
Hinc
per vastum æquor
Cùm navis celeri cursu tetenderit,
Secundi venti vela impleant!
Donec in occidente gradum sistit,
mannos, viros occidentales, eorumque terras Vesterlönd, ter-
ras occidentales, appellarunt. Vid. inter alia Landnam.
part: 1. cap. 5 et 7.
TRIPUDIUM.
291
Et in vadis Anglici soli
Anchora jacitur,
Ut lætitiâ tandem perfusi
Exscensione factâ itineris labore levemini.
XXIV.
Nunquam prioribus seculis
Alii ex his mundi partibus
Heroicæ adeò indolis viri
(Naves) applicârunt ad nostros clivos *.
Josephe, Te semper prædicat,
Te, Josephe, collaudat Islandia;
SOLANDER, decore notus,
Per Cygnorum
habitacula splendeat .
* Elogium hoc Angli nostri optimo jure promeruerunt; præ
omnibus quippe exteris nationibus, oras nostras invisentibus,
erga gentem Islandicam adeo munificos affabiles et humanos
se exhibuerunt, ut simile vix reperire liceat exemplum. Eorum
proinde adventum, itineris rationem, Nomina et raram bene-
volentiam, sempiternæ posteritatis memoriæ, annaliumque
monumentis, grata me suasore conservabit Islandia.
+ Territoriam Alstanes ad sinum Hafnafiord, ubi navis
Anglorum in anchoris consistebat, a cygnis nomen habet,
unde tractum hunc Svanabigder, seu Cygnorum habitacula,
nominamus, habito simul ad universam insulam respectu.
Splendeat cluentis famæ præconio.
292
APPENDIX. Da
XXV.
Valete, humanissimi Domini ;
Laus vestra super terram
Per longam vivat ætatem!
Laudent vos quæcunque moventur !
Plura loqui supersedemus
Doctæ Sorores gratiam sitientes *:
Hoc gratulatorium Carmen non ingratum
Londini et Assatuni
palàm pronunciamus.
N° 4.
VIRIS
ILLUSTRISSIMIS, NOBILISSIMIS, SUMME REVE-
RENDIS, AMPLISSIMIS ET CONSULTISSIMIS !
PLURIMA SALUS!
Vestra hìc in Schalholtiâ conversatio omnibus
erat grata, quare in omnium ore versamini in ce-
lebritate, immò indigenarum laude et memoriâ.
* Gratiam tantorum virorum sibi humillimé apprecantes.
+ Assatun antiquitùs urbs Angliæ; forte non procul a
Brandfurdà, hodie Brentfort, ad quam utramque Canutus
magnus, cum filiis Adalradi Angliæ Regis conflixit; sed in
quâ parte Regni sita fuerit, et num hodie sub alio nomine
existat, juxta ignoramus. Sed hic metri tantùm causâ ad-
hibetur.
EPISTOLA.
293
Verùm post vestrum discessum res novæ mihi
sunt relatæ, quòd totum orbem intra triennium
emensi fueritis; quo vasto itinere audito, miratio
mihi facta est, immò omnes in admirationem
vestri trahit, suo animo apud se perpendentes,
quòd non minùs incredibili animi robore septi,
quàm firmissimâ corporum complexione præditi
sitis. Quod Jacobus de Lamaire et Wilhelmus
Soutensis terrarum orbem peregraverint, memoriæ
est proditum: vestrum susceptum molimenque
omnium est cultu dignum. Præterea liberalitas
vestra penè regifica omnium meritò retinet ani-
mos; qualis munificentia rara est in exemplis,
Præsulis Mag. Johannis Widalini exceptâ, cujus
super anniversaria Evangelia orationes incolæ ha-
bent, a Te, Nobilissime Troili, Schalholti emptas.
Huic olìm objectum, parsimonium optimum esse
vectigal, seram esse in fundo, opus esse cauto: ad
quod Præsul; Mors semper impendet, nunquam
longè abesse potest. Accedit stabilis atque in-
genuus mos et decor, ac inoffensa gravitas, nec
sine jucunditate senile illud vix dum viriles annos
ingressi pondus, illaque exacta frugalitatis lex,
sine quâ frustrà aliquis mentem applicet magnis;
modestiaque inusitata, quæ neque summis, ut ille
ait, mortalium spernenda est, atque a Diis æsti-
matur. Igitur cùm vos ipsos loco ornatissimos
294
APPENDIX. D.
lepidis exornetis moribus, singularibusque studiis,
tùm meum adjicere decet suffragium, et unà cum
aliis laudibus exquisitis ornare. Quod reliquum
est, Poetæ verbis,
Sic te Diva potens Cypri,
Sic fratres Helenæ, lucida sidera,
Ventorumque regat pater,
Obstrictis aliis, præter Iapyga!
Vos, illustres optimos, saluto! Quid dico, poetæ
et ipsâ Apostolicâ salutatione amplector; vos Deo
Opt. Max. cujus nutu et arbitrio omnia reguntur,
omniaque vestra commendare non desistam. Ip-
sissimus vestrum per orbem iter fortunet, et ad
umbilicum ducat! postremò patriis redditi terris,
ad summas in cælesti curiâ evehat dignitates.
Hæc pauca boni æquique consulere dignemini.
Vestræ nobilitatis
Addictissimus,
THEODORUS JOHANNIS, P. Em.
Schalholti, Isl. d. 27, Dec. 17.72.
P.S. In hoc vobis, viri nobilissimi, gratulor,
quòd igniflua, ignivoma, et erudelis Virgo (Hekla)
cum pace incolumes dimiserit.
Viris perillustribus et excellentissimis,
Magistro Josepho Banksio,
Doctori Danieli Solandro, et
Magistro Troilio.
ODE.
295
.
HYRDUGLEGUM HERRA
Alexander Jones,
Hofudsmanni hins Stor-Brettendska
STRIDSKIPS
THE TALBOT.
HONORABILI DOMINO
Alexand. Jones,
Navis Bellicæ Reg. Britann.
THE TALBOT,
PREFECTO.
Huldi myrkur
mockur villu
menta sol
mengi Kristnu,
Bio Pafa flord
prisund salum
kryndir tirannar
kroppum hlecki.
Bonnudu dolgar
boknam leikum
og modur mals
medferd rietta ;
Tha nysjen
i Nordur hafi
kynntiz farendum
soldardili.
Obscurus errorum vapor
solem scientiarum po-
pulis Christianis
pertexit.
Astutia Paparum ani-
mis custodias, tyran-
ni coronati corporibus
vincula instruxerunt.
Prohibuerunt nebulones
isti secularibus littera-
rum studia, et linguæ
vernaculæ rectam tracta-
tionem.
Tum in mari septentrio-
nali, nuper visa terræ
particula navigatoribus
innotuit.
296
APPENDIX. D.
Fadm baud eya
isum vafinn
neyddri thjod
ur nanum londum.
Syrrtuz thar
strialsir holdar
grædgi muks
og grams ofbeldi,
Austmenn, Danir,
Irar, Bretar,
bygdu folld
og blomgvaz letu
Fjeck theim frelsi
frædi skoput;
Rit og mal
rietti nadu.
Gall thar greppa
gullinn harpa
fedra saung
fræg threkvyrki.
Sin
og
samlifendra
kunnra
Sinum præbuit insula,
glacie circumdata, genti-
bus oppressis e vicinis
regionibus ;
Effugerunt hìc viri liberi
voracitatem clerico-
rum et violentiam
principum :
Norvegi, Dani, Hiber-
ni, Britanni, terram fre-
quentârunt et floresce-
re fecerunt.
Libertas artes pa-
ruit; sermo et
scriptura jus suum
obtinuerunt.
Sonuit ibi poetarum au-
rea Lyra; patrum ce-
cinit celebria faci-
nora.
Sua et notorum coæ-
vorum fata et acta
ODE.
297
Orlog ok verk
adrir Skradu;
Skalda log
Skrifs og mælsku
lista og ydna
lietu ritinn.
Undrast enn
Europear
frodir visindi
fedra vorra.
Breyttiz fron
breyttuz landar,
orduz their auds
og œeru-syki.
Mottu hvartveggia
mentum fremur;-
Kongs og klerka
kugan hrepptu.
Soadi mengi
svartur Daudi *
alii composue-
runt;
Leges canendi, scriben-
di, dicendi, artium
et opificiorum scrip-
tis tradiderunt.
Mirantur adhuc
docti Europæi
atavorum nostrorum
eruditionem.
Mutabatur terrà,
mutati sunt incolæ,
divitiarum et gloriæ a-
viditas infatuavit istos.
Utraque scientiis præ-
posuerunt ;-Regis
et cleri oppressionem
nacti sunt.
Mors atra✶ populum
devoravit ;-laus
*Svanefnd drepsott.
*Pestis ita nominata.
298
APPENDIX. D.
hvarfur landi
hrodur forni.
Foruz listir
fje og sæla
vesladiz fold
og fegurd tindi :—
Enn i Nordalfu
onnur riki
sæld og visindi
sunnann fluttu.
Hvurfu svo morg
hundrud ara,
œ Gardarsholma
haignandi for;
Uns mildingar
mærir Dana
vyrdtuz hans mein
vilja bota,
Leystu verdslunar
vonda hlecki
gafu gots
til groda fyrdum,
antiqua emigravit
e terrâ ;
Perierunt artes, opes et
felicitas ;-solum de-
terioratum amænita-
tem amisit.
Sed in Europæ cætera
regna scientiæ et beati-
tudo e meridie trans-
migrârunt.
Diffluxerunt ita anno-
rum aliquot centuriæ;
status Gardaris insulæ
assiduò decrevit ;
Quousque clementes Da-
niæ Reges damna istius
reparare desiderabant ;
Solventes noxias commer-
cii catenas, pecuniam
offerentes ad rem in-
colarum augendam.
ODE.
299
100
Elldur, is,
orækt jardar,
orbyrgd mognud
moti stodu,
Enn orbyrgd tha
engill fridar
gjæddi anægju
gulli betri.
Sast ej dreginn
dor a lopti
nje fallbyssur
fylltar heli
Ej heiptug hond
hellti blodi,
nje herlogar
hreysi gleyptu.
Saum Isalands
einu sœlu
hvirfilbil
hradt kollverpa,
Saum frid vorn
og fedra vorra
Ignis, glacies, tabes,
terræ increta (nostratum)
egestas, proposito genero-
so obstiterunt ;
inopiam autem istam,An-
gelus pacis, animo sort
suâ læto, auro præstan
re, subdidit.
Nullibi videbatur gla-
dius vibratus, nec tor-
menta bellica, perni-
cie plena;
nec manus hostilis san-
guinem effundens, nec-
flammæ classicæ domi-
cilia vorantes.
Vidimus procellosum
turbinem solam Is-
landiæ prosperitatem
humi rapidè prosternare.
Vidimus pacem nostram
et patrum nostrorum tan-
300
APPENDIX. d.
loks far flotta
folvann hverfa.
Allur umhverfis
œstiz heimur
bali blodgu
brandasennu;
Drundu skjœdar
Skruggur viga
of sœ allann
at seggia mordum.
Thoi fjarska leit
thessi undur
vor um hrid
heims utkjalki
Mattkum budlungi
Bretlands mikla,
ovin vordnum
allra Dana,
leitst Islandi
aumu hlifa
fyrir arasum
flota sinna;
dem pallescentem in fu
gam verti.
Totus circumcirca con-
turbabatur orbis bel-
li cruentis incendiis;
Perstrepuerunt univer-
sum mare hominibus
noxia cædium tonitrua.
Eminùs tamen aliquam-
diu spectabat prodigia
ista extrema hæcce mundi
regio.
Potenti Regi Magnæ
Britanniæ, Dano-
rum omnium hosti facto,
Visum fuit Islandiæ
miseræ parcere, nolenti e-
am suarum classium in-
cursa-
tionibus infestatam fore;
ODE.
301
Enn hans thegna
theinktu nockrir
gull i gull-lausu
græda landi.
Hleypti Gilpingr
a herfleyi
Vikur til
at veidum aura.
Hlaut hann ej Skjell
fyn skillinga
enn svipti fron
fjarsjod stokum,
Theim er atti
Thurflir bæta
fatoeks lyds
og logfrid verja.
Adrir baru
at Kaupstefnu
vopn og thannig
varning byltų.
Ipsius autem subditorum
quidam, aurum sperabant
se in terrâ auro destitutâ
acquisituros.
Adduxit Gilpinus Rei-
kiavicæ navem armatam,
ad captandas divitias;
Non
pro nummis verbera
nactus, abstulit hìnc
provinciæ unicum æ-
rarium,
Auxilio pauperum et præ-
sidio securitatis publicæ
destinatum.
Nundinas alii armigeri
frequentabant, merces
ita permutantes.
Lands tho log
Pacem tamen internam
lyda vorra
gentis nostræ leges pa-
02
APPENDIX. D.
innbyrdis grid
triæ adhuc defenderant.
alljafnt vordu.
Saum loks
a sumri thessu
gior umrotad
ro almennri;
Vorum fromsta
folkstyranda
byllt ur ondvegi
ordnum fanga.
Upphlaups litum
andann ljota
geysa of allt
i alvæpni.
Ljetst hann Engla
lofdung thiona
hermaktar hans
hafa fylgi,
Vidimus tandem, hâc
æstate, publicam quie-
tem penitùs disturba-
tam ;
Primarium provinciæ
Procuratorem solio de-
jectum et in carcerem
detrusum.
Vidimus seditionis hor-
ribilem dæmonem, ar-
mis succinctum, om-
nia obruere.
Simulavit se Anglorum
Regi servire, istius exer-
cituum favore nisum.
Vopnadir brodir
Frater se in fratres
bormum moti
enn otti greip
adra lydi,
armavit ;-rapuit
error reliquum popu-
lum,
ODE.
303
Hofdu ej sjed
sverd nje dreyra,
lagaleysi
lutu naudgir.
Sa hinn oblgari
ebldi vyrki
og heldocku
hreykti merki.
Tok hann tignar
titil jarla,
vogandi mildings
makt sier eigna.
Ljest af thjod vorri
Thar til knuinn
at hun uppreystar
oll svo krefdi;
og frelsi sig
Frid
fœera sagdi
theim, er vafdi
throla-hleckium.
qui nunquam ante en-
sem aut sanguinem con-
spexerat, et invitus col-
la jugo insolentiæ sub-
didit.
Fortior ille munimen-
ta ponens, orci instar,
atrum vexillum erexit.
Ducalem sumpsit digni-
tatem, sibi Regiam po-
testatem arrogare ausus.
Prætexuit gentem nos-
tram
hæc a se deprecatam fuis-
se, ipsamque tales turbas
un-
animen poscere;
Dicens se pacem et liber-
tatem adferre ipsis iis-
dem, quos servilibus
onera-
bat catenis.
304
APPENDIX. D.
Ottuduz their
tr annad vildu
eru og mannœra
tinaz mundu;
Ad landradum
lucka styrdi,
og osigrad
Englands merki.
Thannig harmendra
huggun besta,
himnesk von
var oss fluinn.
Sem langhrakinn
Sæfarandi,
barinn skjelfingum
brims og storma,
er i skjœdum
Skerjagardi,
sier vid Skrugguljos,
Skip sitt sveyma,
Enn hofn engva
hrjadu fleyi,
Metuebant contraria op-
tantes fidem et hones-
tatem omninò abolitam
fore;
perduellioni fortunam
necnon Angliæ invictum
vexillum favere
ominantes.
Sic moestorum optimum
solamen, cælestis spes,
aufugit,
Ut navita, per lon-
gum temporis spatium,
æquoris et tempestatis
impetibus vexatus,
qui, fulgure lumen
præben-
te, navem inter scopu-
los insidiosos jactari
nupèr conspexit,
portum autem nullum,
ODE.
305
nema afgrium eitt
hndirdjupa-
Threlsazur
fari thessu
sem med ovæntu
Undraverki ;
Verdur blœlogn
ur bilvedri,
slatur sær
ur fjallbylgjum,
Solbyrta ur
blisum reidar,-
leidur hægur byr
ad hofnum fley ;-
Thannig færdi
thin adkoma,
edallundadi
ALEXANDER!
fognud og frelsi
froni pessu,
sviptur thu thad ognum
ostjornunar.
nisi in medio oceani
abysso,
jam ex his eripitur pe-
riculis, ceu numinis
nutu;
vertitur in tranquilli-
tatem procella, mare
undis montuosum
in malaciam,
in solarem splendorem
fulminantia fulgura-
aura prospera et pla-
cida portum versus navi-
gium ducit:-
Sic tuus adventus,
generose ALEXANDER!
gaudium et libertatem ter-
ræ huic attulit; levasti
istam Anarchiæ horro-
ribus.
VOL. II.
X
306
APPENDIX. D.
Hvar mun syna
sega veraldar
veitta af fjendum
veljord slika?
veit eg hana
hola thinum
fœgsta nafna
fyri minna.
Ej fyri makt
nje mauradyngjur
metord nje hros
hjalp oss greiddir:
Idgjold onnur,
eru likindi
An tantum benefi-
cium, ab hoste hosti
datum, monstret
historia mundi ?
Certus scio celeberrimum
tuum cognominem le-
viore magnanimitate
perennes laudationes
acquisivisse.
Non dominationis, nec
divitiarum, nec digni-
tatis, nec laudis gratiâ
auxilium nobis præbuisti.
Alia præmia, ut videtur,
tibi afferentur, quæ
bjodiz their, enn thess, tamen non metuis.
thu ej qvidir.
Leyf ad thidar thier
thackir greidum,
og formonnum odrum
fylgdar thinnaz;
Sine ut tibi et re-
liquis tui ordinis
ductoribus, singula-
res agamus gratias!
ODE.
307
Ey skal minning
ydar deya
i bokmenta
bolstad forna
Thaklat er ond
Offri kjærri
theim annars ej
Offurs krefur.
Leyf, thig enn
lids at bidjum,
Oss frarændum
folk-narungi
Thier samedla,
ad sid og ættum
hialp, sem fyrr,
holla veitir,
riett ad sok
sigur vinni
og fullkomnun
fro vor nai.-
Nunquam vestra abo-
lebitur memoria in
prisco hocce musarum
habitaculo.
Sacrificio potiùs pla-
cet anima grata isti,
qui victimam petere
nolet.
Sine etiam, ut ulte-
rius a te auxilium pe-
tamus-quòd nempe
primati, nobis vi ademp-
to,
tibi et indolis et stir-
pis nobilitate pari,
adminiculum, ut ad-
huc, porrò etiam præ-
beas,
ad bonæ causæ tri-
umphum, nostrique
perfectionem gaudii
suo tempore compa-
randum;
308
APPENDIX. D.
Oskum vær thier
og thinum lydum,
heidurs, audnu,
og anægju,
enn oss ollum
ars og fridar!
Precamur tibi et tuis
honorem, salutem et
lætitiam, nobisque
junctìm aunonæ
et pacis felicitatem!
Mense Augusto, Anni 1809.—in Islandiá.
END OF APPENDIX. d.
APPENDIX. E.
ICELANDIC PLANTS.
APPENDIX. E.
LIST*
OF
ICELANDIC PLANTS.
I. MONANDRIA.
I. MONOGYNIA.
HIPPURIS vulgaris.
Zostera marina.
* This catalogue is principally taken from Zoega's
Flora Islandica (attached to the Danish edition of
Povelsen and Olafsen's account of Iceland), and Mohr's
Forfög til en Islandsk Naturhistorie, published at Co-
penhagen in 1786. The few additional species, which
I am enabled to insert by means of Sir George Mac-
kenzie's and Mr. Paulsen's collections and my own re-
searches, are distinguished by being printed in italics.
In some instances, where I have, in the course of my
journal, had occasion to notice any new plant or any
peculiarity belonging to those that are already known,
I have referred to the page where it is mentioned.
312
APPENDIX. E.
1
II. DIGYNIA.
Callitriche aquatica.
y. autumnalis.
II. DIANDRIA.
I. MONOGYNIA.
Veronica officinalis.
serpyllifolia.
Beccabunga.
Anagallis.
scutellata.
alpina.
fruticulosa. (vol. 1. p. 113.)
marilandica.
Pinguicula vulgaris." Les Islandais s'en
servent quelquefois en guise
d'ail." Voyage en Islande.
alpina.
II. DIGYNIA.
Anthoxanthum odoratum.
III. TRIANDRIA.
I. MONOGYNIA.
Valeriana officinalis.
Schoenus compressus,
ICELANDIC FLORA.
313
Scirpus palustris.
lacustris.
cæspitosus.
acicularis.
setaceus.
Eriophorum polystachion.—Of the pappus of
this plant the natives make wicks
for their lamps.
vaginatum.
capitatum. Hoppe. (vol. 1. p. 178.)
alpinum.
Nardus stricta.
II. DIGYNIA.
Phleum pratense.
nodosum.
alpinum.
Alopecurus geniculatus.
Milium effusum.
Agrostis rubra.
stolonifera.
canina.
vulgaris.
alba.
B. pumila.
arundinacea.
cærulea.
314
APPENDIX. E.
Aira cæspitosa.
flexuosa.
montana.
subspicata.
alpina.
aquatica.
præcox.
Holcus odoratus. Said to be used by the
Icelanders to perfume their apart-
ments and their clothes.
Sesleria cærulea.
Poa pratensis.
trivialis.
compressa.
annua.
1
angustifolia.
alpina.
maritima.
glauca.-Both this and the following
species are far from uncommon
cœsia.
in Iceland.
Festuca ovina.
rubra.
elatior.
fluitans.
duriuscula.
ICELANDIC FLORA.
315
Festuca vivipara. (vol. 1. p. 320.)
Arundo Phragmites.
Epigejos.
arenaria.
Elymus arenarius.-(vol. II. p. 226.) The
seeds are occasionally made into a
sort of bread.
Triticum caninum.
repens.
Montia fontana.
III. TRYGINA.
Koenigia islandica. (vol. I. p. 152 and 191.)
IV. TETRANDRIA.
I. MONOGYNIA.
Scabiosa succisa.-The Icelandic names for
this plant, Pukabit and Dievels-
bid, have both the same signifi-
cation as our Devil's bit.
Galium verum.
palustre.
Mollugo.
pusillum.
boreale.
Plantago major.
316
APPENDIX. E.
Plantago lanceolata.
maritima.
alpina.-This I recollect seeing, in
some plenty, at Thingevalle,
and I have since received spe-
cimens from Sir George Mac-
kenzie and Mr. Paulsen.
Coronopus.
Sanguisorba officinalis.
Alchemilla vulgaris.
alpina.
III. TETRAGYNIA.
Potamogeton natans.
marinum.
compressum.
lucens.
crispum.
perfoliatum.
pectinatum.
pusillum.
Sagina procumbens.
Tillæa aquatica.
V. PENTANDRIA.
I. MONOGYNIA.
B.
Myosotis scorpioides. a and B
Pulmonaria maritima.
ICELANDIC FLORA.
317
Echium vulgare.
Primula farinosa.
Menyanthes trifoliata.-This plant is im-
portant to travellers who are
not acquainted with the route
in the morasses; for they are
well aware that wheresoever
it grows they may safely pass;
its closely woven roots making
a firm bed upon the soft sub-
soil. The Icelanders call it
Reidinga, and employ the
matted tufts to prevent the
saddle or any load from chaf-
ing the horses' backs.
Azalea procumbens.
Campanula rotundifolia.
patula.
Viola canina.
tricolor.
palustris.
Glaux maritima.
II. DIGYNIA
Gentiana campestris.
amarella.
nivalis.
318
APPENDIX. E.
Gentiana aurea.
detonsa.
bavarica.
tenella.(filiformis of Persoon's
Synopsis.)
verna.
rotata.
Hydrocotyle vulgaris.
Ligusticum scoticum. (vol. I. p. 323.)-To
}
this plant, which Mr. Paulsen
named by mistake Impera-
toria Ostruthium, was at-
tached the following observa-
tion: "Hæc (in Islandiâ) ra-
rissima herba, in saxis solùm
et montibus præruptis mari-
timis reperiunda. Devoratis
radicibus hic traditur divinos
edidisse effectus in hydaridi-
bus abdominalibus. (isl. me-
inlæti)."
Angelica Archangelica. (vol. I. p. 191.)—The
Icelanders gather the stems and
roots of this plant, which they
eat raw, and generally with
the addition of fresh butter.
sylvestris ?
Imperatoria Ostruthium.
ICELANDIC FLORA.
319
Carum Carui.-Naturalised in Iceland, ac-
cording to Sir George Mac-
kenzie.
IV TETRAGYNIA.
Parnassia palustris.
V. PENTAGYNIA.
Statice Armeria.
Linum catharticum.
VI. HEXAGYNIA.
Drosera rotundifolia.
longifolia.
VI. HEXANDRIA.
I. MONOGYNIA.
Convallaria biflora.
Juncus effusus.
arcticus.-Discovered by Sir George
Mackenzie.
squarrosus.
trifidus.
articulatus.
bulbosus.
bufonius.
biglumis.
triglumis.
320
APPENDIX. D.
Juncus pilosus.
campestris.
spicatus.
II. TRIGYNIA.
Rumex digynus.-All the species of Rumex
are boiled and eaten by the
Icelanders; though only the
young shoots of acutus are
employed. Of the Acetosa
a beverage is made by the
common people, by steeping
the plant in water till all the
juice is extracted. This drink
is kept some time; but soon
becomes bad and putrid in
warm weather.
acutus.
Acetosa.
Acetosella.
Triglochin palustre.
Triglochin maritimum.
Tofieldia palustris.
VIII. OCTANDRIA.
I. MONOGYNIA.
Chamænerium halamifolium (vol.1. p. 260 and
318.)-From specimens now
ICELANDIC FLORA.
321
before me it appears that this
species is subject to consider-
able variation, as well in the
proportional breadth of its
leaves, as in the size of the
flowers. Mr. Paulsen remarks
"Crescit ferè solum ad fluvios
montium glacialium, in argillâ
et arenâ vulcanicâ.”
Chamænerium angustifolium. (vol. 1. p. 322.)
Epilobium montanum.
palustre.
origanifolium.
alpinum.
tetragonum.
Vaccinium Myrtillus.
Oxycoccos.
uliginosum.
vol. I. p.
For its uses see
p. 215.
Erica vulgaris." Ex ejus magnâ florescentiâ
de magnâ nivis hyemalis copiâ
augurantur Islandi." Paulsen in
Epist.
II. TRIGYNIA.
Polygonum viviparum. (vol. 1. p. 113.)
VOL, II.
Y
322
APPENDIX. E.
Polygonum Bistorta.-The roots are often
eaten raw, and sometimes con-
verted into bread.
Hydropiper.
amphibium.
Persicaria.
aviculare.
III. TETRAGYNIA.
Paris quadrifolia.
X. DECANDRIA.
I. MONOGYNIA.
Andromeda hypnoides. (vol. I. p. 85 & 122.)
Arbutus Uva Ursi*.-See note in vol. 1. p. 217.
alpina.
Pyrola rotundifolia.
secunda.
minor. (vol. I. p. 122.)
II. DIGYNIA.
Saxifraga Cotyledon.
stellaris.
* "The leaves of this are used in Lapland for tan-
ning and dyeing, which saves a great deal of alum.
Many barrels of these leaves are sent for sale to Stock-
holm." Linnæus' Lachesis Lapponica. v. 1. p. 250.
ICELANDIC FLORA.
323
Saxifraga nivalis.
Hirculus. (vol. I. p. 254.)
palmata.
punctata.
oppositifolia.
autumnalis.
aizoides.
bulbifera.
cernua. (vol. 1. p. 209.)
rivularis. (vol. I. p. 116.)
tridactylites.
cæspitosa.
groenlandica.-My specimens of
this, gathered by Sir George
Mackenzie, exactly accord
with the figure of this species.
in the Flore des Pyrenees.
La Peyrouse has observed it
growing at the height of six-
teen hundred toises above the
level of the sea.
hypnoides.
tricuspidata.
petræa.
Scleranthus annuus.
Silene maritima.
III. TRIGYNIA. ·
324
APPENDIX. E.
Silene acaulis.-Boiled and eaten with but-
ter by the Icelanders.
Stellaria media.
biflora.
cerastoides.
Arenaria peploides.-This is steeped in sour
whey, where it ferments: then
the liquid is strained off, and
fresh water added to the bever-
age, which is said to taste like
olive-oil; whence the name of
the plant in Iceland, Smidiu-
kaal.-Voyage en Islande.
serpyllifolia.
ciliata.
IV. PENTAGYNIA.
Sedum saxatile.
rupestre.
annuum.
acre." Vulgatum in Islandiâ vomi-
torium.”—Paulsen in Epist.
villosum.
Lychnis Flos-Cuculi.
alpina.
var. fl. albo.
Cerastium viscosum.
vulgatum.
ICELANDIC FLORA.
325
Cerastium alpinum.
latifolium.
Spergula arvensis.
nodosa.
saginoides.
XII. ICOSANDRIA.
II. PENTAGYNIA.
Pyrus domestica.-This was found by Sir
George Mackenzie, growing eight
feet high, in a cleft of lava near
Budenstad in Snöefel-syssel. Ano-
ther plant of the same was also
discovered by the same gentleman
at Eyafiord, on the north coast.
aucuparia.
Spiræa Ulmaria.
III. POLYGYNIA.
Rosa hibernica.-This, the only species of
Rosa discovered in Iceland, was
sent me by Mr. Paulsen, with the
following remark :
"Nulli hìc
priùs obvia. Crescit in rupe unicâ
ad villam Seljaland."
Rubus saxatilis.
K
326
APPENDIX. E.
Fragaria vesca. (vol. 1. p. 83.)
Potentilla verna.
anserina.—The roots are frequently
eaten in the southern parts of
the island.
aurea.
Tormentilla officinalis.-In Iceland, I am
not aware that any use is made
of this plant; although in Lap-
land, according to Linnæus, it
is chewed along with the inner
bark of the Alder, and the sa-
liva thus impregnated is applied
to leather to dye it of a red color.
Geum rivale. (vol. 1. p. 235 and 268.)
Dryas octopetala.—Its leaves, as observed in
vol. 1. p. 47, are gathered, and
made into a sort of tea.
Comarum palustre.
XIII. POLYANDRIA,
I. MONOGYNIA.
Papaver nudicaule. (vol. I. p. 323.)
V. POLYGYNIA.
Thalictrum alpinum.
ICELANDIC FLORA.
327
Ranunculus acris.-Often used for making
blisters.
hederaceus.
reptans.
aquatilis,
lapponicus (vol. I. p. 191.)
repens.
glacialis. A rare plant in Ice-
land. I was not so fortunate
as to meet with it myself. Sir
George Mackenzie has favored
me with the only specimen
which he procured: it was
found growing among loose.
stones on the declivity of a
mountain between Stadar-
hraun and Kolbein-stadr.
nivalis.
hyperboreus.
Caltha palustris.
XIV. DIDYNAMIA.
1. GYMNOSPERMIA.
Lamium purpureum.
Galeopsis Ladanum.
Tetrahit.
328
APPENDIX. E.
Thymus Serpyllum.-An infusion of the
leaves is often used to give an
aromatic flavor to the sour whey.
Prunella vulgaris.
II. ANGIOSPERMIA.
Bartsia alpina. (vol. I. p. 270.)
Rhinanthus Crista-Galli.
Euphrasia officinalis.-I possess alpine va-
rieties of this plant from Iceland,
which (though bearing perfect
flowers) scarcely rise a quarter
of an inch above the surface of
the ground.
Pedicularis sylvatica.
flammea.
Limosella aquatica.
XV. TETRADYNAMIA,
I. SILICULOSA.
Subularia aquatica.
Draba verna.
muralis.
incana.
var. contorta. Retzius,
Thlaspi Bursa Pastoris.
campestre,
ICELANDIC Flora.
329
Cochlearia officinalis.
as
danica.-Occasionally eaten
spinage, and reckoned of service
in the cure of the scurvy, though
seldom made use of.
Bunias Cakile.
II. SILIQUOSA.
Cardamine pratensis.
hirsuta. A singular variety of
this plant, if not a distinct
species, has been sent me both
by Sir George Mackenzie and
Mr. Paulsen, having the lower
leaflets round, the upper ones
linear, and all very entire.
bellidifolia.
Sisymbrium terrestre.
Arabis alpina. (vol. 1. p. 268.)
hispida.
Brassica alpina.-Sent me by Sir George
Mackenzie.
XVI. MONADELPHIA,
V. DECANDRIA.
Geranium sylvaticum.
pratense.
montanum.
330
APPENDIX. E.
XVII. DIADELPHIA.
III. OCTANDRIA.
Polygala vulgaris.
IV. DECANDRIA,
Lathyrus pratensis,
Vicia cracca.
Pisum maritimum.
Lotus corniculatus.
Anthyllis vulneraria,
Trifolium arvense.
pratense.
repens.-"Les gens de la cam-
pagne, dans la partie Nord et
Est de cette ile, en mangent en
légume."-Voyage en Islande.
XIX. SYNGENESIA.
I. POLYGAMIA ÆQUALIS.
Leontodon taraxacum.
autumnale.
Hedypnois Taraxaci.
Hieracium Pilosella.
Auricula.
alpinum.
præmorsum,
ICELANDIC flora.
331
Hieracium Murorum.
Serratula arvensis.
Carduus lanceolatus.
heterophyllus.
II. POLYGAMIA SUPERFLUA.
Gnaphalium alpinum.
uliginosum.
sylvaticum.
fuscatum. Pers,
Erigeron alpinum.
Senecio vulgaris.
Pyrethium inodorum.
maritimum.
Achillea Millefolium.-The Icelandic
ap-
pellation, Vall-humall (field-
hops), seems to imply that this
plant has been used instead of
hops in that island, as it is still
in some parts of Sweden. At pre-
sent the natives only make an
ointment of its leaves with but-
ter, which they apply to cutane-
ous and other external sores.
XX. GYNANDRIA.
I. DIANDRIA,
Orchis maculata.
332
[
APPENDIX. E.
Orchis Morio
mascula.
latifolia.
hyperborea. (vol. 1. p. 85.)
Satyrium viride.
albidum.
nigrum.
Epipactis ovata.-I possess the only speci-
men of this ever gathered in
Iceland; it was found, at a
place called Vik, by the son
of Mr. Paulsen.
Nidus avis?-Either this or a new
species of Epipactis has been
sent me by Sir George Mac-
kenzie. The specimen is
destitute of its root, so that I
cannot ascertain it with cer-
tainty.
Cymbidium Corallorhizon.
XXI. MONŒCIA.
I. MONANDRIA.
Zostera marina. (vol. I. p. 111)—This the
cattle eat, and the natives gather
and dry for their beds.
Chara vulgaris.
hispida.
ICELANDIC FLORA.
333
III. TRIANDRIA.
Sparganium natans.
Cobresia scirpina. Willd. (vol. I. p. 152 and
178.)-Carex Bellardi of pre-
Carex dioica.
ceding authors, under which
name it is mentioned in my
journal.
capitata.
pulicaris.
arenaria.
uliginosa.
leporina.
vulpina.
muricata.
loliacea.
canescens.
elongata.
flava.
pedata.
montana.
rigida.
limosa.
atrata. (vol. I. p. 116.)
pallescens.
capillaris.
1
334
APPENDIX. È.
Carex Pseudo-cyperus.
acuta.
ampullacea. The specimen sent me
by Sir George Mackenzie is a slight
variety with branched spikes.
vesicaria.
hirta.
Urtica dioica.
IV. TETRANDRIA.
urens.-This I only saw growing in
Mr. Savigniac's garden, at Reikevig.
VIII. POLYANDRIA.
Myriophyllum spicatum.
verticillatum.
Ceratophyllum demersum.
Betula alba.
nana. (vol. 1. p. 241.)
XXII. DIOECIA.
II. DIANDRIA.
Salix Myrsinites.
arbuscula.
herbacea. The downy substance from
this and other species of Willow is
applied by the natives to wounds
ICELANDIC FLORA.
335
both of man and beast. The leaves
steeped in water are employed in
tanning skins. The wood is used
in making ink, being steeped in a
decoction of the leaves, to which is
added some of the earth used in
dying, mentioned in the note, at
vol. 1. p. 215: it is then all boiled
together until the liquid has ac--
quired a proper consistency.
Salix purpurea.
reticulata.
myrtilloides.
glauca.
lanata.
Lapponum.
arenaria.
fusca.
caprea.
pentandra.
III. TRIANDRIA.
Empetrum nigrum.
VIII. OCTANDRIA.
Rhodiola rosea.
XIII. MONADELPHIA.
Juniperus communis.
1
336
APPENDIX. E.
XXIII. POLYGAMIA.
I, MONŒECIA.
Atriplex laciniata.
الله
patula.
:
XXIV. CRYPTOGAMIA.
I. FILICES.
Equisetum sylvaticum.-Various species of
Equisetum are given to the
cattle in Iceland, where they
are said to be excellent food
for the saddle-horses.
arvense.
limosum.
palustre.
fluviatile.
hyemale.
Osmunda Lunaria. (vol. I. p. 116.)
Ophioglossum vulgatum.
Lycopodium alpinum.-For its use in dying
woollens, see vol. 1. p. 214.
clavatum.
annotinum. (vol. I. p. 85.)
Selago.
selaginoides.
ICELANDIC FLORA.
337
Lycopodium dubium *.
Polypodium vulgare.
fontanum.
ilvense.
arvonicum. (vol. I. p. 58.)
Phegopteris.
Dryopteris. (vol. 1. p. 320.)
Aspidium Lonchitis.
Thelypteris.
Filix mas.
Filix fæmina.
fragile. I possess a curious and
elegant species of Aspidium
(Cyathea of Doctor Smith)
somewhat allied to this, but
hitherto undescribed.
Asplenium septentrionale.
Isoetes lacustris. (vol. I. p. 208.)
II. MUSCI.
Phascum muticum.
Sphagnum obtusifolium.-The same use
being made of this moss in
* Surculis simplicissimis, erectis, compressis; foliis
complicatis, carinatis, acutis, alternis, distichè imbri-
catis. König.
VOL. II.
Z
338
APPENDIX. E.
Iceland as in Lapland, I shall
be readily excused for insert-
ing Linnæus' words upon the
subject. "Feminis Lapponicis
maxime notus est hic muscus;
hunc enim, linteis cùm desti-
tuantur, infantibus, dum cunis
suis continentur, undique cir-
cumponunt, qui et pulvinaris
et tegmenti vices servat, uri-
nam acrem absorbet, calorem
conservat, sericisque stragulis
gratior est tenellis; mutatur
deinde vesperi et mane, dum
purus et recens substituitur in
prioris locum."-Fl. Lapp.
p. 337.
Sphagnum capillifolium.
Gymnostomum truncatulum.
fasciculare. (vol. i. p. 50.)
Tetraphis pellucida.
Andræa rupestris.
Rothii. (vol. I. p. 154.)
Splachnum ampullaceum. (vol. 1. p. 88.)
urceolatum.
mnioides.
rubrum.
ICELANDIC FLORA.
339
Splachnum vasculosum. (vol. 1. p. 260.)*´
Conostomum boreale. (vol. 1. p. 85 and 94.)
Encalypta vulgaris.
alpina. (vol. 1. p. 83.)
Grimmia apocarpa.
maritima.-Not
uncommon
on
Weissia cirrata.
rocks by the sea shores.
Encalypta lanceolata? (vol. 1. p. 23.)
Dicranum scoparium.
undulatum.
heteromallum.
ར
purpureum. (vol. 1. p. 113.)
flexuosum.
squarrosum.
pusillum.
pulvinatum.
taxifolium.
hypnoides. (vol. I. p. 50.)
Trichostomum fontinalioides.
fasciculare.
canescens. (vol. I. p. 83.)
ellipticum. (vol. I. p. 58 and
154.)
Syntrichia ruralis.
subulata.
Tortula tortuosa.
h
%%
K
340
APPENDIX. E.
Tortula convoluta.
Catharinea hercynica.
glabrata. (vol. I. p. 24.)
Polytrichum commune.
alpinum.
sexangulare. (vol. I. p. 265.)
urnigerum.
aloides.
subrotundum.
Orthotrichum striatum.
Neckera curtipendula.
Bryum androgynum.
argenteum
Zierii.
cæspititium.
dealbatum. (vol. 1. p. 58.)
hornum.
crudum.
turbinatum.
serpyllifolium.
pyriforme.
dendroides.
Hypnum sericeum.
abietinum.
filamentosum. (vol. 1. p. 58.)
prælongum.
velutinum.
ICELANDIC FLORA.
341
Hypnum proliferum.
nitens.
illecebrum.
purum.
filicinum,
aduncum.
uncinatum.
revolvens.
denticulatum,
triquetrum.
squarrosum.
cuspidatum.
Crista castrensis,
cupressiforme.
scorpioides.
silesianum. (vol. I. p. 116.)
Bartramia fontana.
ithyphylla.
pomiformis.
Fontinalis antipyretica,
squamosa. (vol. I. p. 209 and 260.)
falcata. (vol. 1. p. 260.)
Funaria hygrometrica.
Buxbaumia foliosa. (vol. 1. p. 88.)
III. HEPATICÆ.
Junger annia concinnata,
'
342
APPENDIX. E.
Jungermannia julacea.
-ኦ
asplenioides. (vol. I. p. 152.)
scalaris.
Sphagni.
angulosa. (vol. 1. p. 50 and
161.)
byssoides.
bicuspidata.
disticha. Mohr,
albicans.
nemorosa.
resupinata.
complanata.
dilatata.
ciliaris.
epiphylla.
pinguis.
furcata.
Marchantia polymorpha.
hemisphærica.
tenella.
Targionia hypophylla.
Blasia pusilla.
Riccia crystallina.
glauca. (vol. I. p. 153.)
Anthoceros punctatus. (vol. I. p. 315.)
ICELANDIC FLORA.
343
IV. LICHENES.
Lepraria botryoides.
Jolithos.
Lecidea sanguinaria.
fusco-atra.
fusco-lutea.—About Reikevig. (vol. 1.
p. 23.)
atro-virens. ≈ and Y.
pustulata.
Gyrophora glabra. ß.
deusta.
erosa.
cylindrica.-Used, in times of
scarcity, as food, but more
frequently for dying woollen
of a brownish-green color.
hirsuta." Longe optimum in re
cibariâ Lichenis genus.-Pagina
inferior pilosa. Crescit unicè in
lapidibus magnis discretis, et
rupibus alpinis, imprimis sum-
mis cacuminibus, ubi Falcones
sæpiùs insident." Paulsen in
Epist.
Endocarpon Hedwigii.
344
APPENDIX. E.
Endocarpon tephroides.-About Reikevig.
(vol. I. p. 23.)
Sphærophoron compressum.
Isidium defraudans.
Urceolaria calcarea.
Parmelia tartarea.
subfusca.
pallescens.
candelaria.
brunnea.-About Reikevig. (vol. I.
p. 23.)
gelida.
stygia.
fahlunensis.
omphalodes.
saxatilis.
stellaris.
parietina.
olivacea.
scrobiculata. (vol. 1. p. 23.)
nigrescens.
physodes.
furfuracea.
ciliaris.
prunastri.
fraxinea.
ICELANDIC FLORA.
345
Parmelia farinacea.
ochroleuca.
sarmentosa. (vol. 1. p. 251.)
jubata.
Peltidea venosa.
resupinata,
canina.
aphthosa.
crocea.
saccata.
Cetraria islandica.-For the account of this
and the following species, see
Journal, p. 130, and the note at
p. 214.
nivalis.
Cornicularia lanata.
Usnea hirta.
pubescens.
Stereocaulon paschale.
globiferum.-About Reikevig
and other places, not uncom-
mon. (vol. I. p. 23.)
Bæomyces cocciferus.
digitatus.
deformis.
pyxidatus.
346
APPENDIX. E.
ť
Bæomyces cornutus.
gracilis.
endivifolius.-About Reikevig.
(vol. I. p. 23.)
uncialis.
subulatus.
rangiferinus.
vermicularis.
tauricus.
V. ALGE AQUATICÆ.
Fucus serratus.This, and various other large
>
species of Fucus, serve occasion-
ally for food for the cattle and
fuel for the poor natives.
vesiculosus.
var. divaricatus.
excisus.
inflatus.
spiralis.
ceranoides.
canaliculatus.
4
distichus. (Fl. Dan. 351.)
nodosus.
siliquosus.
loreus.
}
ICELANDIC FLORA.
347
Fucus aculeatus.
purpurascens.
lycopodioides.
ramentaceus. (vol. I. p. 36.)
muscoides.
Filum.
lanosus. Mohr.
fastigiatus. (Fl. Dan. 351.)
digitatus.
palmatus.-This, the Sol of the Ice-
landers, is the most frequently
prepared and eaten of any of the
genus. See vol. 1. p. 44.
esculentus.
saccharinus.
edulis.
sanguineus.
ciliatus.
crispus.
alatus.
dentatus.
rubens.
11
plumosus.
cartilagineus.
spermophorus.
gigartinus.
confervoides.
348
APPENDIX. E.
Fucus flagelliformis. (vol. 1. p. 36.)
plicatus.
albus. (Fl. Dan. 408.)
corneus.
fungularis. (Fl. Dan. 420.)
Fucus clavatus. Mohr.
coronopifolius.
fæeniculaceus. (Conferva. Huds.)
(vol. I. p. 36.)
Tremella lichenoides.
verrucosa.
hemispherica.
adnata.
Nostoc.
Ulva umbilicalis.
intestinalis.
latissima.
compressa.
pruniformis,
lactuca.
lanceolata.
linza.
plicata. Mohr.
crispa. auct.
Rivularia cylindrica. Wahl. MSS. (vol, 1,
p. 86, 100, and 331.)
angulosa. (vol. 1. p. 260.)
ICELANDIC Flora.
349
Conferva dichotoma.
spiralis. (vol. 1. p. 49.)
bipunctata.
nitida.
flavescens. (vol. I. p. 161.)
æruginosa.
vaginata. (vol. I. p. 50.)
limosa. (vol. 1. p. 160.)
littoralis.
scoparia.
cancellata.
polymorpha.
rupestris.
ægagropila.
corallina.
Byssus Cryptarum.
VI. FUNGI.
Agaricus campanulatus.
fimetarius.
campestris,
Boletus luteus.
bovinus.
Helvella atra. (Fl. Dan. 354.)
æruginosa. (Fl. Dan. 354.)
Peziza lentifera.
scutellata.
VOL. II.
A 2
350
APPENDIX. E.
Peziza cupularis.
zonalis.
Clavaria coralloides.
muscoides.
Lycoperdon Bovista,
Mucor Mucedo,
}
}
END OF APPENDIX. E.
APPENDIX. F.
DANISH ORDINANCES
CONCERNING
THE TRADE OF ICELAND
BY
LAND AND SEA;
AS ALSO
THE PRODUCTS OF ITS MANUFACTORIES.
APPENDIX. F.
TRADE OF ICELAND.
In what man-
ner the fishing
be continued by
§ I.
THE fishing in boats, being the
in boats shall chief employ of the inhabitants
the inhabitants. on the coast, is permitted to
every person having a fixed residence in
Iceland, from which neither the clergy, nor
civil officers are excluded. Our appointed
magistrates, and especially the inspectors
of the districts, have it likewise in charge,
that whatever we have ordained, as well as
whatever else we may in due time think
proper to ordain, be attended to in the
strictest manner possible, and also that they
shall by all means encourage the inhabitants
of the fishing villages to cleanliness, and
354
APPENDIX. F.
industry. They have in particular to at-
tend to supplying the fishing villages with
good and wholesome water, wherever it may
be deficient; and for such purpose the tax-
gatherers shall oblige all the fishermen in
their several districts, to do the needful work,
on pain of punishment according to the nature
of the offence. It is our farther will and
pleasure, that the lieutenant of the county,
the high bailiffs, and bailiffs of theseveral dis-
tricts, shall give information to our treasury,
of whatsoever in their judgment may contri-
bute best and most effectually to the encou-
ragement of the fisheries in general, either by
the introduction of new and more suitable
regulations, or by removing such obstacles,
as may possibly hitherto have laiu in the
way; and we shall more especially expect
to receive their sentiments, concerning the
mode by which the so denominated loan
of men, may in time be set aside, or re-
stricted; in like manner as it is our intention
of doing, on the estates to us belonging.
§ II.
The fishermen are otherwise not to be
obstructed in seeking the best places for
TRADE OF ICELAND.
355
fishing, and even in their own boats, on
condition of their paying to the farmer, on
whose possessions they may have taken their
stations, for landing their boats, house-room,
and services for the season, according to
what has been the usual custom at the
place. But, in case of all the room being
so completely occupied that they cannot
find sufficient convenience for themselves,
either of houses, or place of landing thereto
attached, and that they can find some other
landing-place, it shall be permitted them.
to put into it, and, if they are so inclined,
there remain under the cover of tents, or
of their own boats. In such case, no claim
for ground-rent shall take place, provided
the strangers shall not, by treading, have
caused any damage in the fields or meadows.
In case that they, from deficiency of fish-
huts, proper heath, or other places, should
be under the necessity of drying their fish
near the shore, and in places where grass
might possibly grow, it shall not be con-
sidered that the farmer thereby sustains any
damage, but rather that he therefrom derives
a benefit, as the roes, with the fish which are
there laid, manure the land, and render it
capable of producing grass, if the soil be
356
APPENDIX. F,
capable of it; neither can it be deemed
hurtful, that fish are dried, even on good
grazing-fields, in such parts where the
Vortiden ends on the twelfth of May.
But, in case of any dispute arising between
the farmer and the strangers, the bailiff of
the place shall nominate two independent
persons to survey the place, and estimate
the damage, according whereto the high-
bailiff will give his decision. But, on the
contrary, should the summer-quarter be
taken for this purpose, the drying of fish
on useful grass meadows cannot be per-
mitted, unless that the consent of the land-
holder be thereto previously obtained.
In what man-
ner the whale
§ III.
In case of any whale being
fishery particu- driven on another person's ground,
larly is to be
conducted. the method prescribed by the re-
script of the twenty-third June, 1779, is
to be adhered to; and it is farther to be ob-
served, that such of the inhabitants of the
country, or strangers, as intend to pursue
this fishery, may expect to receive particular
assistance for the purpose, according to cir-
cumstances, and the utility of the plan.
Such persons, more especially, as inhabit
TRADE OF ICELAND.
357
J
the vicinity of the fiords or bays most con-
venient for such pursuits, as the market-town
at Isefiord, and divers other fiords, from
Patrix-fiord to the Jökul-fiords, in the west
country, and Hvalfiord in the district of
Kiose, may expect having assistance granted
them for procuring the necessary implements,
on due request being made. And, for the
same purpose and intent, we will also in
such cases give the needful directions for
having some young and active persons from
those places, duly instructed in the art of
the said fishery, and in the manner of using
the fish, free of any expence to themselves;
and they shall likewise afterwards receive
farther assistance for enabling them to'
establish themselves in Iceland, at some
place or other most convenient for such
fishery, and there practice the knowledge
they have obtained of it.
Encouragement
for catching of
§ IV.
It appearing to us as a matter
porpoises, seals, of essential consequence, as well
and salmon; as
also for herring for the inhabitants of Iceland in
and flounder
fisheries.
particular, as also for our domi-
nions in general, that, exclusive of the cod-
358
APPENDIX. F.
fishery, now the most pursued, the taking
of all other kinds of fish which nature pro-
duces near Iceland should be followed; in
order to catch as great quantities as possible.
of all sorts of fish, and that the fish should
be cured in such manner that it may not
only be used for the support of the inhabi-
tants, but likewise be disposeable as an article
of commerce, we would have it taken into
consideration in what manner the inhabi-
tants of the country, in case of their exert-
ing themselves in extending and improving
the fisheries, more especially with respect to
porpoises, seals, and salmon, and also to catch-
ing of herrings and flounders, may best be
supplied and assisted with the necessary and
proper implements; all according to circum-
stances, and to the statement expected from
the magistracy; more especially when such
institutions are made on a great scale, and
may be productive of any considerable in-
fluence in commercial transactions.
General rules
for the quality
§ V.
The regulations concerning cer-
of the fish. tain descriptions of fish, which
existed during the time of the company's
TRADE OF ICELAND.
359
charter, can in future, and with regard to
particular circumstances, be no longer ap-
plicable; but, in case of other, or more sorts
of such goods being required by the traders,
it must be laid on the basis of this ordnance,
in its second chapter, § 4, but nevertheless,
and until other regulations shall be fixed
among the concerned, those which have
hitherto been in use, shall hereafter continue
to be observed, and this for so much the
greater reason as they are intended to specify
the quality of the chief exports from Iceland.
Fresh, or soft fish, such as may be consi-
dered good merchandize, should be delivered
immediately after being taken out of the
sea, and untainted; nor must there be any
lean or skin-fish among it. The heads must
be cut off, the entrails taken out, the fish
properly split, in such a manner that the
bone be taken out three joints below the
navel, and the scales of the cole-fish must
be scraped off. Such fish as can be used for
dried fish, must be salted immediately on
being caught, with the necessary quantity of
French salt, or some other sort equally use-
ful. It should be well cleansed, and after-
wards properly cured, according to the
•
}
360
APPENDIX. F.
Newfoundland mode, in such a manner that
it may obtain the proper appearance, and
keep well. The neck, and every thing about
the neck, must likewise be cut away, before
it receives the last day's drying. The dried
fish must be well worked and thoroughly
dried, and not mouldy, rotten, slimy, or
maggotty. The neck must be cut off when
it is half dried, or at least before it is re-
ceived and weighed. The fresh cod-roe
must be delivered immediately on its being
taken out of the fish, the breeches must be
whole, and the roe of a red color, firm, and
not spawning. The oil must be clear and
clean, and leave no sediment.
Rules for land
products, and
their most pro-
fitable use.
§ VI.
And likewise all such goods as
are produced by farming and its
different branches, which are sold
by the Icelanders, must in general be clean,
warrantable, and well worked; whereas, with
regard to particulars, the directions con-
tained in the second chapter, § 14, must be
attended to. But, as such goods may partly
be employed to much better advantage in
trade than could hitherto be done, under
TRADE OF ICELAND.
361
the influence of a chartered company, such
of the inhabitants of the country, as are
willing to apply themselves to better modes
of cure, may expect to receive some or
other suitable encouragement, according to
circumstances; and more especially if the
plans are of such extent, that they may
produce a visible effect in the trade. The
same will take place with respect to farming
and agriculture, both in general, and also
in particular, in so far as any one may put
himself forward by considerable or important
experiments in gardening, planting of woods,
growth of corn, potatoes, and other herbs
and roots, or by the proper cultivation of
several kinds of Icelandic herbs, useful for
food; all according to circumstances, and
statement thereon to be made by the magis-
tracy to our treasury, and also partly accord-
ing to our resolutions hitherto passed on
such matters.
§ VII.
Ordinance for
Concerning the catching of
the preserva- birds, and the use to be made
tion of the
eider-duck.
thereof, according to law, the same
usage shall continue as hitherto has been the
362
APPENDIX. F.
invariable custom. But no person whoso-
ever, whether a stranger or an inhabitant of
the country, shall be permitted to shoot
eider-fowls, or destroy them with dogs or
nets, under the penalty of three marks for
every bird; and also every one that has been
present at the time, and has not immediately
reported the offence, shall forfeit half that
sum of which penalty the informer shall
receive two-thirds, and the poor of the parish
the other one-third, after deducting the ex-
pences attending examining into the same,
unless it be done on such person's own
ground, and in such a manner that the
neighbors cannot thereby suffer any loss or
damage. But, on the contrary, should this
be done on another ground-owner's land,
who may have adopted any peculiar method
for the preservation of the eider-ducks, either.
by making islets in the fresh-water lakes, or
by building of nests for the reception of
such birds, or any other thing of the like
nature, he shall pay the damage according
to law and, whoever shall be found guilty
of having malevolently destroyed or injured
such receptacles, shall be punished by a cri-
minal fine. Neither shall the eggs be taken
TRADE OF ICELAND.
363
out of the eyry; and, in such places, where
there are several joint owners (unless with
the mutual consent of all concerned, and
upon certain days for such purpose appointed,
and this not to be done at any time later than
to the end of the week preceding the week
of St. John, at Midsummer), should it
be observed that the eider-duck begins to
retire to some islet, or other place, which is
not the particular property of any individual,
there to deposit its eggs, it shall at first be
permitted to keep its eggs, both for the pur-
pose of decoying it there and suffering it to
increase, until its increase shall have become
so visible that the eggs may be taken with-
out detriment to the brood, and in case any
of the neighbors or other persons act con-
trary hereunto, he shall pay one rix-dollar
as a fine, of which the informer shall receive
two-thirds, and the poor of the parish the
other one-third, after a deduction of the law
charges; whereas, on the contrary, those
who strictly follow such precautions shall be
entitled to the rewards stated in our resolu-
tion, bearing date the twenty-second of
June, 1785.
364
APPENDIX. F.
Concerning the
mode of proce-
phur and salt
works.
¡ VIII.
For the farther encouragement
dure with sul- and extension of some particular
branches of industry, it is like-
wise our most gracious intention to offer the
sulphur-works at Huusevig, and the salt-
works at Reykenes, to private adventurers,
and on reasonable conditions; for which
purpose, those concerned have to apply to
our committee for regulating Icelandic affairs.
And, should any one be inclined to renew
the working of the sulphur-mines, which
were formerly in drift near Kreisevig, in the
district of Guldbringue, or to work any other
considerable mines, or to make farther im-
provements in the boiling of salt from the
sea-water, by the assistance of the hot-
springs, such as are to be found in the
district of Bardestrand, at Reykholt, and
possibly in sundry other places, we would
not only herewith cause the same to be
permitted, but likewise encourage such en-
deavors by proportionate bounties. With
regard to the sulphur in general, it shall be
permitted for every person to make the best
use of it, to the extent of his ability, and
TRADE OF ICELAND.
365
wheresoever he may find it; with the sole
reservation, that this must be done with the
consent of the land-owner, in case it should
be discovered in any place beyond the limits
of the discoverer's own grounds.
Encouragement
mineral sub-
stances.
$ IX.
Of such minerals as are found
for using sundry in this country, whether of earth,
sand, or stone, every one is al-
lowed to make free use, provided that they
are found on the mountains, public roads,
or other places, not the property of any
particular person. And, as several of the
stony kind are found to be very useful for
buildings and other uses, such persons as
may be willing to break them, may (on
a request for such purpose having been le-
gally made) have a right
a right of property
granted them to such places, provided they
are not already the property of others; but,
should the case be otherwise, they must
make an agreement for such purpose with
the proprietor of the soil; and the magis-
tracy shall likewise take care that none,
without sufficient cause, deny another per-
son the liberty of using such kinds of
VOL. II.
2 B
{
366
-APPENDIX. F. ··
✓
products, in return for a reasonable acknow-
ledgement, if they are of any consequence,
and if he either cannot, or will not, make
use of them himself. The same shall be
the case with sundry other more rare kinds
of mineral substances, such as gypsum and
lime-stone, crystal, bpal, calcedony, agate,
jasper, zeolite, and various sorts of volcanic.
matter; and even those persons, who may be
willing to polish such stones for ornamental
purposes (for which experience has proved
them to be very suitable), may expect to be
"recompensed according to circumstances;
provided that such an experiment may
appear to promise à beneficial result.
Encouragement
for using sundry
and especially
1
§ X.
In like manner, such persons
other products, may expect rewards and support,
of drift-timber. according to circumstances, who
shall discover and work pit-coal, or shall
find out easier methods of breaking and
using surtur-brand from the rocks: for
which purpose the magistracy shall, in the
manner before described, have the power of
making the necessary agreement with the
owner of the soil, in the best possible man-
TRADE OF ICELAND.
367
}
ner. The drift-timber, which is principally
found in the northern, north-western, and
north-eastern coasts, must doubtless, as
heretofore, remain the property of those,
who are lords of the shore; but, it hav-
ing been proved by experience, that the in-
habitants, from deficiency of means, cannot
sufficiently take advantage thereof, it is our
gracious will and pleasure, that, by the
interference of the magistracy (at such
places, and where it is usual for such kind
of timber to be found) in all cases where
disputes may arise, an equitable agreement
shall be made between the proprietors of
the soil, and such others as might possibly
intend making a continual use of the place,
for their own benefit, with regard to making
the best use of such timber. And, under
. such circumstances, the undertakers of all
such concerns may expect having some or
other gratuity allowed them, proportionable
to the purpose intended; and more especially
in so far as they may intend to make use of
the said timber for building of large boats,
and other vessels fit for fishing by sea, and
the carriage of goods; for which purpose,
T
ŕ
$
A
>
368
APPENDIX. F.
those places where such advantages happen,
stand in greater need than others along the
coast.
Of what advan-
tages will be
granted to such
§ XI.
Tradespeople, who may be in-
clined to settle in Iceland, may
tradespeople as do so without hindrance or mo-
are most useful
-
to the country. festation, not only in the trading
towns, but even in the country; it being
permitted, by the placard of the eighteenth
of August, 1786, in its 14th article, for
every one to carry on whatever lawful trade
he may think proper in the country, by the
best means in his power, mercantile business
only excepted, as expressed in § 2, of the
second chapter of this ordinance. Such
tradesmen as are of the greatest utility
to the country may likewise expect to
have a royal assistance granted them for
their establishing themselves in some or
other of the trading towns in Iceland;
such as weavers, hat-makers, fellmongers,
ropemakers, blacksmiths and whitesmiths,
joiners, coopers, house and ship carpenters,
bricklayers, and stone-cutters. Such people
•
TRADE OF ICELAND.
369
whether they are masters, or journeymen
who have perfectly learnt their trade, may
in consequence apply to our treasury, where
they will receive the necessary information
of what advantages may be granted them,
according to circumstances, and the several
local situations: but before that they come
forward with such requests, they must be
duly provided with attests from the magis-
tracy whom it may concern, and also with
the needful proofs of their capacity. Such,
and, according to circumstances, still greater
advantages will be granted to those, who
may establish larger manufactories, and those
that may prove more useful to the country
(some of which, such as rope making and
furriery, have already in former times been
followed with good success), and, more
especially, if occasion should thence arise.
of using the raw products of the country
more beneficial manner, or if the
wants of the country might thereby be
the more easily supplied; under which
head come fish, glue, and isinglass: the
making use of horse-hair for various pur-
poses, to which it may be rendered ser-
viceable; different sorts of earth and clay
in a
370
APPENDIX. F.
f
for painting colors, and several other means
of support, which nature appears to have
thrown in the way.
§ XII.
In what man- Woollen goods having, from
ner the manu- the most ancient times, been the
facture of wool-
len goods, hi- chief manufacture of the Ice-
therto used in
shall be con-
tinued.
the country, landers, and having in general'
found a tolerably good demand,
partly even in foreign countries, their own
profit will probably stimulate the inhabitants
in future to continue exerting their utmost
industry in the improvement of this kind of
goods. But what different sorts thereof
would now be most profitable for them to
work, and of what quality they ought to
be, will in future solely depend upon a mu-
tual agreement between the traders and the
inhabitants; and, consequently, the traders'
themselves must furnish the inhabitants
with such samples and information, accord-
ing to which they may deem it most ad-
vantageous for the latter to work. Now,
when the inhabitants have undertaken, ac-
cording to such samples, information, or pat-
terns, to make the goods bespoken, whether
T
TRADE OF ICELAND.
371
they be mittens, stockings, or woollen stuffs,
they ought diligently to endeavor to follow
such directions; it will consequently in the
present case, solely depend upon such goods.
being duly and properly manufactured, in
regard to which the directions contained
in § 14 of the second chapter are to be
strictly followed; whereas, on the contrary,
all the directions and methods which have
hitherto been recommended by our colleges
and our magisterial persons, relative to the
manufacture, &c., of sundry kinds of wool-
len goods, heretofore in use, are herewith
annulled and put out of force, from the
first January, 1788. But as the ground
on which the foresaid ordinances are in-
validated, is solely this, that they refer to
sundry specified kinds of goods, which may
undergo much alteration by opening a free
trade; so on the other hand, the inhabitants
of the country, in as much as they manu-
facture the commodities hitherto in use, must
continue so to do in such manner as has been
heretofore prescribed. The magistracy have
therefore, when any disputes arise, as well
in these, as in other cases, carefully to ex-
amine and determine, whether the articles
372
APPENDIX. F.
actually are good and sufficient or not, al-
though that the particular regulations hi-
therto prescribed may no longer be appli-
cable.
Encouragements
for improving the
fabrication of
woollen goods.
§
XIII.
We having so much the
greater reason to expect that
the manufacture of woollen
goods will in future be improved, so that
the inhabitants of Iceland may hereafter
fabricate different kinds of woollen stuffs,
applicable to different uses, and which may
be brought to greater perfection, whenever
a better mode of spinning and weaving
shall become more general among them; we
should learn, with the most gracious satis-
faction, that any of our own subjects or
foreigners would use their endeavors to in-
troduce some or other kind of beneficial
manufactory, by which the great quantity
of wool grown there might be used with
profit for all our other states and dominions;
in which case, the undertakers of such
establishments may expect having suitable
encouragement given them for providing
against the first attendant expences, or for
TRADE OF ICELAND.
373
promoting the sale of the articles manu-
factured. The same shall also take place
with regard to the manufactory now esta-
blished at Reikevig (which it is our most
gracious intent to yield upon very reason-
able conditions, to such persons who may
therefore make application to our com-
missioners for the managing of the Ice-
landic commerce), as well as to several
other institutions of the like nature; such
as providing the members of the work-
house with work that is most suitable for
them, raising a dyer's house and a stamp-
ing-mill in the north country, and what-
ever other improvements may be made in
the woollen manufactory.
Concerning the
encourage-
ments.
§ XIV.
Moreover such weavers of wool-
len cloth and linen who are in-
clined to establish themselves, in some trad-
ing town in Iceland, may expect that suit-
able encouragement will be granted them,
according to circumstances, for their esta-
blishment, and for the prosecution of their
business; and we therefore do, not only
374
APPENDIX. F.
for the present, promise every weaver of
woollen or linen a proportionable premium
for every person whom they shall prove to
have been duly taught the art of spinning.
and weaving, but also that, if any of those
persons, who (according to the plan by us
laid out in the year 1780, for our kingdom
of Denmark) have been taught in the ma-
nufactories established in these kingdoms,
shall be disposed to establish themselves in
Iceland, for the purpose of their following
the profession that they have learned; the
first twelve that may so offer themselves,
shall, besides, be entitled to a premium of
twenty rix-dollars annually for the first
twenty years; but in such case it will be
required, that they are provided with a certi-
ficate, duly attested by the master of the fac-
tory, of their being thoroughly capacitated,
and also declaring that they shall continue
their profession for that space of time, and
continually keep one boy in their employ,
who shall be fully instructed in their busi-
ness in the course of five years. And be-
sides which, a magistrate, or some other
civil officer, shall, together with a clergyman,
TRADE OF ICELAND.
{
375
*
be able to attest that he has actually and
continually been employed in the profession"
taught him, and that his master has ful-
filled his obligation of having at least one
apprentice, who shall have been fully in-
tructed in the course of five years. And:
every person, either woollen or linen wea-
vers, who shall demand a premium for
having brought up apprentices to his busi-
ness, must produce an attest, as beforesaid,
from some magisterial person, proving that
the object is thoroughly instructed in his-
art, and likewise produce in court a sample,›
given in to the proper magistrate, of the
ability of the apprentice. In case of any
foreign master tradesman, or journeyman,
who has thoroughly learned his business,
applying to the magistracy in any of our
sea-port towns, for a passage over to Ice-
land, with intent there to settle, he may im-
mediately, on giving sufficient proofs of hist
ability, expect likewise to enjoy all the ad-
vantages held out, and also to participate
in the freedoms allowed to foreigners in
general in Iceland, by the placard of the
eighteenth August, and the ordinance of
the seventeenth November of last year.
376
APPENDIX. F.
1
Premiums for
spinning and
weaving of
woollens and
linens.
§ XV.
It is besides our will and plea-
sure, that (for the better encou-
ragement of the inhabitants to
attend, with all possible industry, to such
manufactory, a peculiar premium be ap-
pointed for woollen goods made in Iceland,
from well-assorted wool, and of the finest
quality; and also previously, for the first
ten years, a premium of £10 per cent. on
the value of the cotton, flax, and hemp-
yarn there spun by tale-reels. It is, how-
ever, incumbent on those who apply for
such premiums for yarns, to produce the
needful custom-house attests on the quan-
tities so imported from Iceland into our
kingdoms and provinces, as likewise to make
attestation on oath, both of the value, and
also of its being actually spun in Iceland;
on which point, however, we will not,
for the said space of ten years, prescribe
any fixed rule, neither with regard to the
fineness of the spinning, but leave the same
entirely to the agreement made between the
parties concerned, it being their joint in-
terest to have the yarn spun to the utmost
fineness that the quality of the wool will
TRADE OF ICELAND.
377
permit. It is likewise our will that a suit-
able premium be allowed, for the same space
of time, for weaving of coarse cloths and
linens, chiefly used in Iceland, in such wise,
that a premium of half a skilling per ell shall
be paid for every ell of coarse cloths and
linens; and one skilling for every ell of
finer cloths or linens, whilst still in the
loom; the persons concerned providing
themselves with an attest from a magis-
terial person, and a clergyman, of the size
and quality of the piece. In like manner,
such persons as have particularly exerted
themselves in spinning and weaving, may
expect, that they, in case of their being
deficient of the necessary implements, will
be gratuitously supplied by us, in future, as
hitherto, with some Danish looms, spinning-
wheels, hasps, and cards, all according to
circumstances, and proposals to be made
by the magistrates.
Institutions for
teaching capa-
ble pupils in
spinning and
weaving of
woollens and
linens.
§ XVI.
It will likewise de end upon
circumstances, in how far the
institution which we have set
on foot for causing young, and
1978
APPENDIX. F.
2
I
>
+
+
willing Icelanders, to be taught in the art
of spinning and weaving of woollen and
linen goods (partly at the manufacture of
Reikevig, in Iceland, and partly in other
manufactories, here in Denmark), on con-
dition of their again returning to Iceland,
and there, practising the knowledge that
has been taught them, will be continued.
The foresaid institution at Reikevig, shall
be continued until the term of years ap-
• pointed is expired; or until the fixed
number of fifteen pupils, three from each
of the five districts of Oefjord, Huneyand,
Rangevalle, Myhre, and Arnæs, shall be
thoroughly instructed, both in spinning
and weaving. During the time that they
are so learning, they shall have free board
and lodging, and the needful clothing for
daily use; and, although that the term of
apprenticeship is generally fixed at three
or four years, yet this shall not be any
impediment to those who may within a
shorter time, so perfect themselves, that
they may be deemed fit to work for them-
selves, and afterwards to teach others, im-
mediately returning home again. The dis-
trict judges must, however, not at present
9
5
1
TRADE OF ICELAND.
€37.9
A
►
nor hereafter, propose other subjects for
being taught at our expence, than such, of
whom they may with certainty expect, that,
after having been completely taught, will
again return and carry on their profession;
and if any one should request to have his
- children or relations taken to learn the
business, he shall, also oblige himself, after
their being properly educated for it, to pro-
vide them with opportunity for carrying on
their work. It being intended that such
youths, as soon as they have obtained the
'needful proficiency, should again return,
and settle in the districts from whence they
were taken, in order there to extend to
others what they have themselves been
taught. For which purpose, each man shall
not only be provided with a loom, and
every female with one or two good spin-
ning-wheels, but they shall also receive
some assistance towards their establishment,
and afterwards receive two rix-dollars pre-
mium for every one, whom they shall have
educated in that country, during the first
twenty years; and to the persons taught,
will likewise be given some implements
380
APPENDIX. F.
•
for their business gratis, all on condition
of the same being duly proved, according
to 14 of this chapter.
According whereto, we herewith direct
and command our counts, commanders of
districts, barons, bishops, judges, presi-
dents, burgomasters and councils, sheriffs,
magistrates, and all others, to whom these
presents may come, that they cause the
same to be immediately read and published
in all proper places, for general information.
Given at our palace of Christiansborg, in
our royal residential city of Copenhagen,
the thirteenth of June, 1787.
Given under our royal hand and seal.
CHRISTIAN R.
Seal.
REVENTLOW.
HANSEN.
COLBIORNSEN.
VORNDRAN.
TRADE OF ICELAND.
381
PLACARD,
1
Whereby sundry articles, concerning the trade to Iceland,
are more specifically laid down.
We, his royal majesty's, the king of
Denmark and Norway, &c., &c., appointed
president, deputies, and assessors in the
chamber of taxes and interest, do herewith
certify, that, it having appeared that the
mercantile persons in Iceland have, in
some wise, misconstrued some parts, both
in the ordinance of the thirteenth of June,
1787, and also in other regulations issued
concerning the trade and navigation to Ice-
land, in a quite contrary manner to the
meaning and intent of the said ordinances,
it has pleased his majesty, by his resolution,
bearing date the thirtieth of last month,
to deem it needful to give a further eluci-
dation to the said parts or passages, accord-
ing whereto the magistracy of the districts
therein concerned have to act and direct
themselves, so as to prevent all fraud and
deceit on behalf or part of the traders. And
therefore his majesty, for the purpose of
the intent of the said most gracious reso-
VOL. II.
2 C
382
APPENDIX. F.
*
lution being the better carried into effect,
has graciously been pleased to add the fol-
lowing articles, to be observed and obeyed
by all whom it may concern. These parts
are, the placard concerning throwing open the
Iceland trade, bearing date the eighteenth
of August, 1786, in its 13th §; the ordi-
nances concerning the liberties granted to
the trading towns, now forming in Iceland,
bearing date the seventeenth of November,
1786, in its 15th ; and the before-men-
§
tioned ordinance of the thirteenth of June,
1787, in its second chapter, §§ 2 and 11;
several traders having taken advantage there-
of, to extend their trade to a far greater
degree than is expressed or specified in the
ordinances given concerning the free trade,
when taken in their proper intent and
meaning. In order therefore to prevent
such abuses, which, in process of time,
might be productive of the most dangerous
consequences to the commercial trade in
general, his royal majesty has been most
graciously pleased to ordain, that the pri-
vileges, which are granted to the trading
towns, by the ordinance of the seventeenth
of November, 1786, in its 4th, 6th, and
TRADE OF ICELAND.
383
7th §§, compared with the placard bearing
date the eighteenth August, next preceding,
in its 12th §, on which the parts before-
stated are founded (namely the 13th § of the
placard; the ordinance concerning the pri-
vileges of the trading towns, in its 15th §;
and the ordinance of the thirteenth of June,
in its second chapter, 2nd and 11th §§),
do not refer to others than such as keep
bed and board in the trading towns, and
carry on a constant trade there; and like-
wise, that the country traders, agreeably
to the ordinance of the thirteenth of June,
1787, in its second chapter, 12th and 13th
§§, shall likewise be under the obligation
of carrying on the trade, as well in winter
as in summer, the result whereof is :-
See the placard
third of April,
(a) That what is contained in
of date twenty- the placard 15th §, the ordinance
1793, § 1. concerning the privileges of the
trading towns, in its 15th §, and the second
chapter, 2nd and 11th §§, concerning such
citizens, is not to be otherwise understood,
than regarding such as have established
themselves in the trading towns, and as.
carry on trade there both in winter and
summer, either by themselves, or by their
亨
​384
APPENDIX. F.
acknowledged factor, except what is other-
wise mentioned in the last-cited four places,
viz. that they may trade to or with what-
ever foreign place they will, cannot, if
meant to be out of the district, be other-
wise understood, than as merely applicable
to the special trade of the ships, which
shall have lain four weeks, without having
commenced any trade with the country;
either by having thrown up some sheds,
or by having there erected some building;
and they shall likewise be allowed to lie
and carry on trade, but only in the proper
trading towns, or in such out-ports as are
either permitted by the liberation of the
trade, or may hereafter be erected, with
the approbation of our chamber of taxes
and interest.-
}
See placard of
twenty-third
April, 1793,
§ 1 and 2.
(b) That no man, who shall
have established himself in any
trading town, or in the district
belonging to it, and shall have taken his
burghership there, either personally, or by
his factor, shall establish any trade in any
other trading town, or in the district there-
unto appertaining, under the plea of having,
either by himself, or by his factor taken his
TRADE OF ICELAND.
385
burghership at such place; or under the
pretext of the last-mentioned carrying on
trade there on his own account; and there-
fore he shall be obliged (in case of the
magistracy finding his assertion of carrying
on trade there for his own account, to be
liable to suspicion), to make deposition
upon oath before the court, that all the
goods in which he means to trade, as well
import as export goods, are to him solely
belonging, and not to any person in any
other district.
See placard of
twenty-third
April, 1793,
(c) That such persons, belong-
ing to Denmark, Norway, or the
1, 2, and 3 §§. provinces, who are inclined to
carry on a trade in the country, shall like-
wise form an establishment in the trading
towns, raise buildings, and there take
burghership, or at least so do by their
factor, who in such case shall keep his
house and office, and carry on trade, both
in winter and summer, without doing which,
he may not trade with any inland town,
excepting as a special trader, for the
space of four weeks; and consequently he
must not employ any other factor in his
386
APPENDIX. F.
stead, and have such a person made a
burgher, and still less shall he employ any
farmer in carrying on trade for him during
the winter.
According whereto, all persons concerned
have to govern themselves.
Chamber of Taxes and Interest, 1st June, 1792.
(Signed.)
REVENTLOW.
HOE.
HANSEN.
COLBIORNSEN.
KOLLE. SCHIONNING. HANSEN. WORMS-
KIOLD. BUDT. M. vVON ESSEN. MANKE.
HAMELEFF. JOHANSEN. VORNDRAN. WADRIN.
}
GUNDELACH.
SULDEN.
23rd April, 1793.
PLACARD,
Whereby sundry passages in the Placard of the 1st of
June, 1792, are more particularly explained, for pre-
vention of the establishment of any prohibited trade in
Iceland, and of other misuses in trade, which have
there taken place.
We, his royal majesty's, the king of
Denmark and Norway, &c., &c., appointed
Л
TRADE OF ICELAND.
387
3
president, deputies, and assessors in the
chamber of taxes and interest, do herewith
certify, that his royal majesty having, by
his resolution of date the thirtieth of May
last year, which was made public by the
chamber of taxes, &c., in a placard of the
first of June next following, been graciously
pleased to give a more full explanation con-
cerning some passages, both in the ordi-
nance of the thirteeenth of January, 1787,
concerning the commerce and navigation of
Iceland, and also in sundry other regulations
thereunto appertaining, which have in part
been misunderstood, for the prevention of
fraud and deceit on the part of the traders;
his majesty has now again thought proper,
in order that the intent of the said most
gracious resolution may the better be ac-
complished, to give the following articles,
bearing date the seventeenth of this month,
for the observation and notice of all con-
cerned.
1, That, exclusive of what is ordained in
the foresaid placard, letter a, it shall be
strictly prohibited to expose goods for sale
to the farmers, or any others whomsoever,
3.88
APPENDIX. F.
or to send any persons out with goods for
sale into the country; and also that whoso-
ever shall be found to have acted here unto
contrary, or against what is ordained in the
placard aforesaid, shall be punished by a
mulct of one-fourth part of the value of the
goods in which such trade is carried on, as
well of the cargo brought on shore, as of the
Icelandic goods so purchased; and whether
it be the master or the mate of a vessel, who
has undertaken to carry on such a trade, he
shall besides be fined twenty rix-dollars; and
such Icelanders, or other persons established
in the island, who shall suffer themselves to
be detected in such illicit trade, shall like-
wise incur a penalty of from five to ten
rix-dollars, according to circumstances.
2, The same punishment shall likewise
be inflicted on the traders established in
Iceland, who shall act contrary to what
is ordained per letter b, in the placard.
The traders from Denmark, Norway, and
the provinces, who, in their trade to Ice-
land, shall omit attending to the contents
of the placard in letter c, shall be punished
in like manner.
TRADE OF ICELAND,
389
3, But, on the contrary, if the traders
from Denmark, Norway, and the provinces,
shall, agreeably to what is directed by the
placard, in letter c, establish a fixed trade
in the trading towns, and there keep house
and office, or at least do so by their factor,
they shall have a right to trade with any
inland towns thereto authorised, in the dis-
trict of such trading town; and such factors
shall, agreeably to the placard, be obliged
to take their burghership; whereas such
factors and other servants, as are em-
ployed by merchants who have taken the
houses of trade effects and materials and
who have themselves taken their burgher-
ship, shall be excused from taking burgher-
ship.
4, It shall be totally prohibited to grant
letters of burghership to the peasantry; and
such letters of burghership, as may have
already been granted to such persons, shall
be revoked, and annulled, unless they are
willing to establish themselves in the trading
towns, and there only carry on trade as
burghers according to their privileges; but
they shall in no wise carry on trade at their
2 p
390
APPENDIX. F.
farms, under penalty of being mulcted as
aforesaid,
5, If any free or private trader shall be
found to remain and carry on trade at the
trading town, after the expiration of the
four weeks granted by agreement; or at
the authorized out-ports, and there carry
on trade; then, and in such case, all such
persons, be they masters, mates, or seamen,
shall pay a penalty of four rix-dollars for
every day, that it shall be lawfully proved
they have staid above the said time.
6, And likewise, such private traders,
as live in out-ports, where there has not
been any proper or authorized trading town,
or in the fiords and bays, for the purpose
of trading, shall be subject to the penalties
ascertained by the 1st §.
7, One fourth part of the fines aforesaid
shall be given to the informer, one fourth
part falls to the justiciary box, one fourth
to the house of correction, and the other
fourth part, if the fines are under ten rix-
dollars, to the poor of the parish; but, if
it exceeds ten rix-dollars, it shall be given
TRADE OF ICELAND.
391
to the poor of the whole district; and the
merchant, in whose district such unlawful
trade is carried on, shall not only be
authorized to give information thereof, but
also, in the absence of the magistracy, shall
have power, with the assistance of people
employed for the purpose, to lay a sequester
on the goods, on condition of his immediately
requiring the magistracy to take a legal
survey and estimate on the same, and there-
after to proceed in the cause to its conclu-
sion, according to agreement, and at the
expence of the person implicated.
According whereto, all persons have to
conduct themselves.
Chamber of Taxes and Interest, 23rd April, 1792.
(Signed)
REVENTLOW.
HOE.
HANSEN.
COLBIORNSEN.
KOLLE. SCHIONNING. WORMSKIOLD. BUDT.
M. VON ESSEN. MEINCKE. HAMELEFF.
JOHANSEN. VORNDRAN. WADUM.
FINIS.
GUNDELACH,
Clerk.
INDEX.
ÅÅHVER, a remarkable boiling fountain, 1. 309.
Acerbi, Mr., his account of a vapor-bath in Finland,
i. 317. note.
Adam, Dr., his incorrect account of Iceland and of
Hecla, 1. 148. note.
Etna, dates of the eruptions of, 11. 107. note.
Agreement, copy of the, between the English and Ice-
landers, 11. 99.
Afretur, 11. 136.
Akaroe, visit to the island of, 1. 41-birds of, 1. 42, 43.
Akra-fiel, a remarkable mountain, 1. 276, 291.
Alca arctica, abundance of, 1. 43-its uses among the
Icelanders, 1. 44.
Almannegiaa, a remarkable chasm, entrance of, 1. 102,
103-particular description of, 1. 207—plants of,
I. 116, 209.
Althing, the court of civil and criminal judicature,
1. xxii, 105. note.
Anas histrionica, 1. 268.
Anderson, an historian of Iceland, his absurd stories
respecting the natives of that country, 1. 135.
Andromeda hypnoides, singular beauty of the flowers
of, 1. 85.
Angelica Archangelica, 1. 191-used as food, I. 192.
Animals, effect of the volcanic eruption of 1783 upon,
II. 228.
Anthoceros punctatus, 1. 315, note.
Antiquities, few remains of, 1. lxxxiii.
INDEX.
Apn-vatn, 1. 126-cold experienced in the vicinity of,
I. 204.
Ashes, volcanic, effect of, upon vegetation, II. 225.
Aurora borealis, fine appearance of, 1. 349.
Banks, Sir Joseph, 1. iii. 61, 70, 159, 210. note-281,
356—11. 9, 58, 109, 116. note.
Barrow, Mr. his account of hot-springs in the island of
Amsterdam, 1. 161. note.
·
Basalt, 1. 35, 93, 267.
Bath, remarkable une at Reykholt, 1. 311-vapor-bath,
1. 316.
Bears, Arctic, their visits to the coast of Iceland, and
the value of their skins, 1. 53.
1
Beggars, Icelandic, singular law respecting, I. xviii. note.
Bergman, Professor, 1. 142.
Bessestedr, 1. 351-miserable state of the school of,
I. 351.
Betula nana, 1. 241.
Birds of Iceland, 1. 37, 42, 43, 334.
Bishops, residences of, 1. 38-present bishop of Iceland,
I. 27, 37, 38.
Blinde Fugle-Skier, 11. 262. note.
•
Bolus, about the hot-springs of Kreisevig, 1. 238, 243.
Borgafiord, journey to, 1. 252.
Borrer, Mr., 1. 225.
Bory de St. Vincent, 1. 101. note.
Botany of Iceland, 1. 327.
Boula, a remarkable mountain, particulars respecting
the interior of, 1. 299,
Bright, Mr., 1. 72.
Brueraa, passage of the river of, 1. 137.
Brydone, Mr., 1. 249.
}
INDEX.
Caithness, view of the coasts of, 1. 4.
Canis lagopus, particulars respecting, 1. 50.
Carer, supposed new species of, an important article in
husbandry, 1. 304.
Catharinea glabrata, 1. 24.
Chasms, remarkable ones, near Thingevalle, 1. 112.
Christianity, first introduction of, into Iceland, 1. Ix.
Churches, 1. 114.
Clausen, Mr., II. 47.
Clergy, their wretched salaries and poverty, 1. 96, 130.
Cod-fish, mode of curing of, 1. lxxxvi. note.
Cold, severity of in 1784. 11. 226.
Confervæ, found in heated water, 1. 49.
Corn, particulars respecting the cultivation of, in former
times, 1. 291. note.
Cows, 1.345,
Crater of a volcano, described, 1. 122, 125.
Cyclopterus lumpus, 1. 351.
Danes, their property in Iceland confiscated, II. 41.
Darwin, Dr., his mistaken account of the Geyser,
1. 147. note.
Diseases, of the Icelanders, 1. xcix.
Dogs, 1, 339.
I.
Drift-timber, encouragement for the collecting and
using of, 11. 366.
Dyticus, a species of, seen in the heated waters, 1. 49.
Edda, 1. lxxv.
Eels, found in hot water, 1. 49.
Egclosen, the priest, 1.94, 217.
Eider-ducks, 1. 42, 43-ordinance respecting the pre-
servation of, 11. 361.
INDEX.
Einersen, Mr. Assessor, his seizure and imprisonment,
I. 89. and 11. 35.
Epilobium frigidum, 1. 318.
Etatsroed, visit to the, 1. 276-description of his resi
dence at Inderholme, 1. 277, 278—his literary
acquirements, I. 280-his botanical knowledge,
I. 290-his political address to the Icelanders,
11. 19. note—his account of the volcanic eruption
of Skaptar-Jökul, 11. 121.
Falcon, Icelandic, 1. 335.
Faxafiord, entrance of the bay of, 1. 9.
Fisheries in Iceland, how affected by the volcanic erup-
tion in 1783, 11. 219-Danish ordinances respecting,
11. 353, 348.
Fishes of Iceland, 1. 334.
Flax and Hemp, bad success attending the cultivation
of, 1. 30.
I.
Floco, the Norwegian, visits Iceland, 1. xi.
Flora, of Iceland, 11. 312.
Flora, the ship, arrival of, 1. 224.
Fog, very dense one experienced, 1. 216.
Forelles, a species of trout, 1. 96.
Foxes, some particulars respecting, 1. 50-their im-
portance as an article of commerce, 1. 51.
Frydensberg, Mr., his seizure, 11. 35.
Fucus, esculent species of, 1. 46.
Fucus palmatus, its use as an article of food in Scotland
and Iceland, 1. 44-mode of preparing, among the
*
Icelanders, 1. 45.
Fucus saccharinus, not the Alga saccharifera of Biarne
Povelsen, 1. 45-described by Gmelin, 1. 45—re-
markable variety of, 1. 79.
INDEX.
Fugle-skieren, dangerous passage near, 1. 8.
Gardens in Iceland, 1. 29-account of, by Horrebow,
1. 31, note.
Geitland-Jökul, 1. 299, 300, note.
Georgics of Iceland, 1. 39.
Geysers, journey to the, 1. 90-first view of, 1. 139-
account of the great Geyser, 1. 141-fine eruption
of, 1. 144, 146—crater of, 1. 142, 149—the roaring
Geyser, 1. 151-the new Geyser, magnificent erup-
tion of, 1. 163, 179-crater of, 1. 167-plants found
in the vicinity of the Geysers, 1. 152, 153, 154, 160,
161, 162, 178-departure from the, 1. 182.
Gilpin, Captain, his attack upon Iceland, 11. 10.
Goats, 1. 348.
Godar, 1. XX.
Gravesend, departure from, 1. 1.
Grimsaa, account of the, 1. 301, note.
Groenavatn, a remarkable lake, 1. 240.
Guldbringue Syssel, passage along the coast of, 1. 9.
Hamilton, Sir William, 11. 101, note, 113, note.
Haukardal, farm of, 1. 171-church of, 1. 173, 175–
plants found near, 1. 178.
Havnfiord, 1. 230.
Hecla, opinion of the common people respecting, 1. 195,
II. 110 account of, i1. 105.
Heiderbag, 1. 94.
Helgafel, mountains, 1. 83, 234. note.
Hemp and Flax, bad success if the cultivation of, 1. 30.
Hirundo urbica, domestica, and Apus, seen at sea, 1. 3.
Holland, Dr., 1. 40. note, 1. xxix. lxxix.
Holme, Captain, seizure of his vessel, 11. 43.
Holme, Mr. S. M., 11. 169—his account of a fall of ashes
and sulphur, 11. 211. note.
INDEX.
Horrebow, Mr., on the gardens of Iceland, 1. 31. note-
his account of the hot-springs of Huusevig, 1. 169,
note, 179, note.
Horses, 1. 343-mode of journeying with, 1. 91, 219.
Hrafnagiaa, a remarkable chasm, 1. 118.
Hraun, vast bed of, 1. 81-plants found among, 1. 81, 85.
Hreppstiorars, 1. xviii.
Hvalfiord, 1. 270-story in the vicinity of, 1. 271-
markable rocks near the head of, 1. 273.
Hvamöre, visit to, 1. 289.
Hvassa-Hraun, 1. 233-plants found upon, 1. 235.
Hverfisfliot, disappearance of the river of, 11. 146.
Hvitaa, 1. 307.
Humboldt, 11. 115. note.
Ice-islands, 1. ci.
XXXV-
Iceland, its situation and extent, 1. vii-discovery of, 1. *
-its colonization, 1. xii-its early form of govern-
ment, 1. xvi-submits to Norway, 1. xxiii-and to
Denmark, 1. xxiv-form of government of, under
the Danes, 1. xxiv-punishments of, 1. xxvii-its
revenue, 1. xxvii-its expenditure, 1. xxxiii-salaries
and pensions paid by government of, 1. xxxv—
ecclesiastical history of, 1. xlv-bishop of, his resi-
dence, 1.27—visit to the, 1. 37-his library, 1.37—
former residence of the bishops of, 1. 38-destitute
of towns, 1. 33-produce of, chiefly brought to
Reikevig, 1, 33-land in, how disposed of, 1. 271,
note, and 272, note-gardens in, 1. 29, 30, 31, note,
-quadrupeds of, 1. 339-birds of, 1. 334-insects
of, 1. 333-plants of, 1. 327-state of literature and
learning in, 1. 355-late rèvolution in, 11. 1-her
difficulty of procuring the necessary supplies for her
subsistence, 11. 8-government of, put into com-
INDEX.
mission, 11. 54-British proclamation in favor of,
11. 59-arrival at, 1. 10-departure from, 1. 358-
return to in the Orion, 1. 365-population of, 1. xcvi
-climate of, 1. xcix.
Icelanders, early state of religion among the, 1. xlv—
their places of worship in the time of paganism,
1. lvi-their conversion to christianity, 1. lx-they
receive the Lutheran faith, 1. lxiii-first interview
with the, 1. 10-their want of cleanliness, 1. 10, 15,
18-their passion for snuff and tobacco, 1. 12—their
dresses, 1. 11, 18, 20, 72, note-their fishing and
wedding-dresses, 1. 21, 77- machines for drying
their fishing-dresses, 1. 22-food of the, 1. 33–
supposed conspiracy among the, 1. 88-dwellings of,
1. 95, 108-their aversion to drinking, 1. 135, note
-their wandering mode of life, 1. 221-their attach-
ment to the English, 1. 222-scattered dwellings of
1. 271-their custom in naming their children,
1. 290-their amusements, 1. lxxxix.-their em-
ployments, 1. xcii-their food, 1. xciv-their diseases,
I. xcix.
Inderholme, the residence of the Etatsroed, visit to,
1. 276-departure from, 1. 323.
Ingulf and Hiorlief colonize Iceland, 1. xii.
Ingulfshaugar, 1. xiv, note.
Insects of Iceland, 1. 333-remarkable appearance of,
in the pastures, after the eruption of 1783, 11. 223
Institution for teaching children to spin and weave, 11.377
Island, account of a new one, off the coast of Iceland,
II. 258.
Jackson, Captain, 11, 11-commences hostilities in Ice-
land, 11, 13-forces a trade, 11. 14.
INDEX.
Jonas, Arngrim, 1. 195, note—287, note—and 316.
Jones, the Honorable Alexander, arrives in Iceland,
I. 334—becomes acquainted with the revolution,
1. 325, 11. 50—orders the persons concerned in it to
proceed to England, 1. 325, 11. 54—his letter
relative to the Icelandic revolution, 11. 84, 96.
Jonesen, Madam, 1. 87-description of her house, 1. 188,
202.
Jonsbook, 1. xxiv.
Jorgensen, Mr. Jorgen, takes possession of the governor's
house, 1. 58-his troop, 1. 88-his intended im-
provements in the school of Bessestedr, 1. 354—
restores the government to the Icelanders, 1. 357-
embarks in the Orion from Iceland, 1. 358—saves the
crew of the Margaret and Anne, 1. 366-biographical
notices respecting, 11. 6, note, 55, note-dissolves
the Danish authority in Iceland, and issues his
proclamations, 11. 27-takes possession of the public
chest, II. 42.
Jungermanniæ found near the hot-springs, 1. 50.
Justice, court of, 1. xxvi, 29.
Kampfer, his account of the hot-springs in Japan, 1. 196.
note-description of the sulphur-springs in Japan,
1.245, note.
Kamtchatka, feast among the natives of, 1. 68, note, 171.
Katlegiaa, account of an eruption of, 11. 120.
Kerguelan, 1. 31. note.
Klofa-Jökul, seen at midnight, 1. 6.
Krabla, account of the eruption of, 1. 119.
Kreisevig, country in its vicinity, 1. 236-Church of,
1. 240—scenery at, 1. 248-obstacles to collecting
the sulphur of, 1. 250.
INDEX.
Langspel, 1. 282.
Language of Iceland, 1. lxvii.
Laugardalr, 1. 126.
Laugerfel, 1. 139, 154.
Lava, vast bed of, described, 1. 81-singular appearance
of the, 1. 101.
I.
Leera, 1. 293-printing-office at, 1. 294.
Levetzen, Mr., II. 122.
Lichens, various species employed as food, 1. 132.
Lichen islandicus, 1. 130-particulars respecting 1. 131
-mode of preparing for food, 1. 133.
Ligusticum scoticum, 1. 383.
Likthrau, 1. 189.
Linnæus, 1. 57, 85, 108, 192.
Literature, ancient state of, 1. lxxii-present state of,
1. lxxix.
Logmann, 1. xxi.
Löwnörn, Mr., his account of the Fugle-skiærene,
11. 261.
Lutheran religion, introduction of, 1. lxiii.
Lycopodium alpinum, used for dying, 1. 214.
Mackenzie, Sir George, 1. 110, 233. note 309, 345, 346,
Magnusen, Mr. Finnur, 1. 39, 357.
Manufacture of woollen goods, encouragements for,
II. 370.
Margaret and Anne, leaves Iceland, 1. 359-burnt at sea,
I. 360.
Mice, some particulars respecting, 1. 51.
Middalr, 1. 127-miserable habitation of the priest of,
1. 128.
Milk, mode used by the natives to convey this fluid intą
bottles, 1. 256, note.
INDEX.
Molluscæ, 1. 334.
Mosses found near the hot-springs, 1. 50.
Motacilla Trochilus and atricapilla, seen at sea, 1. 3.
Myvatn, sulphur springs of, 1. 251.
Niebuhr, his account of a hot spring at Suez, 1. 246, note.
Naddoc, a Norwegian, discovers Iceland, 1. x.
Odes and letters of the literati of Iceland, 11, p. 274.
Orion, a vessel belonging to count Trampe, seizure of,
1. 54, II. 24.
Orkney Islands, 1. 5.
Oxeraa, 1. 105, 106, note--criminals punished at, 1. 210.
note.
Papar, the, supposed to be the first inhabitants of Ice-
land, I. xv.
Papaver nudicaule, 1. 323:
Pennant, Mr., 1. 229, note.
Pentland-frith, passage of the, 1. 4.
Phelps, Mr., I. 1, 242-his motives for engaging in
mercantile speculations with Iceland, II. 10-fur-
nishes a second vessel and embarks for that coun-
try, 11. 21- his letters to Captain Jones upon the
subject of the revolution, 11. 90.
Phoca vitulina, its use, 1. 343.
Pinus sylvestris, 1. 306.
Plants found in the neighborhood of Reikevig, 1. 23-
near the hot-springs, 1. 49, 50, 153, 161, 162-
among Hraun, 1. 83, 85—at Almannegiaa, 1. 112,
116, 209—incrusted with the depositions from the
Geysers, 1. 151-used in dying, 1. 214, 215, 216-
of Iceland, 11. 311.
INDEX.
Potatoes, 1. 89.
Povelsen and Olafsen, 1. 37, 44, 49, 103, 118, 150, 200,
note, 214, note, 234, 300, note-their account of
birds found in the hot-springs, 1. 180, noțe.
Printing, introduction of, 1. lxxviii.
Proclamations, relating to Iceland, 11. 67.
Ptarmigans, 1. 235.
Ravens, numerous and destructive in Iceland, 1. 337.
Reikevig, approach to, and view of, from the bay, 1. 15,
17-country in the vicinity of, 1. 22, 34-plants
found near, 1. 23, 47, 58-description of the town
of, 1. 25-Cathedral of, 1. 28—the town of, put in
a state of defence, 11. 40.
Reindeer, 1. 107.
Religion, early state of, in Iceland, 1. xlv-present state
of, 1. lxiii.
Reykholt, visit to, 1. 305-remarkable bath at, I. 311.
Reykiadals-aa, 1. 308.
Reykum, hot-spring of, 1. 138, 184-plants found near,
1. 186.
Revolution, in Iceland, 11. 3.
Rivularia, a new species of, 1. 86, 100.
Runic characters, 1. lxix.
Sacrifices, human, in Iceland, during the time of
Paganism, 1. lvii.
Salmon, means of taking, 1. 87, 88-great capture of,
1. 226.
Sands, flying or drifted, 11. 187.
Savigniac, Mr., II. 12.
Sauer, Mr., his description of the hot-springs in Kam-
chatka, 1, 246, note.
INDEX.
Saxifraga Hirculus, 1. 254.
Sheep, 1. 76, 114, 347.
Shells, 1. 37.
Sivertsen, Mr., 1. 230.
5
A
Skalds, 1. lxiv.
Skalholt, 1. 186-ancient relics at, 1. 197, note-former
cathedral of, 1. 198, note-present church of, 1. 197,
200-first bishop of, 1. 200.
Skaptaa, the river, disappears, II. 128.
Skaptefield-Jökul, dreadful eruption of, 11. 121-minera-
logical productions of, 11. 201—effects of the eruption
of, upon the human constitution, 11. 230.
Skardsheidi, mountain of, 1. 295, 321-forest at the foot
of, 1. 295-remarkable form of the summit of,
1. 297-severity of the weather upon, 1. 297–
prospect from, 1. 299-plants found at the foot of,
I. 320.
Skoul-a-fiel, mountain of, 1. 93, 255-chasm at the foot
of, 1. 220, 259-ascent of, 1. 261-prospect from,
I. 262-plants of the mountain, I. 265, 266.
Skribla, 1. 315,
.
Snoefel-Jökul, 1. 263.
Snorralaug, 1. 311-early christians baptised at, 1. lxi,
note.
Snuff, passion of the Icelanders for, 1. 12-method of
taking, 1. 14.
Snuff-boxes described, 1. 14, 307.
Sol, its use as food both in Scotland and Iceland, 1. 44-
mode of preparing it, 1. 45.
Sorte-Dod, or black death, 1. xcvi.
Sparrow, Mr., information from, 11. 212. note.
Springs of hot water, near Reikevig, 1. 48, 89-at Lau
gardalr, 1. 126-at Reykum, 1. 138, 184-in Japan,
INDEX.
1. 196, note-in the island of Amsterdam, 1. 161,
note-in Kamtschatka, 1. 246, note-in Arabia, 1.
246, note.
Stanley, Sir John, 1. 62, 139, 151, 159, 167, 172.
Stenaa, floods of liquid fire, 11. 119.
Stephensen, Mr. Magnus, visit to, 1. lxxxi. 1. 276.
Stephensen, Mr. Stephen, 1. 302—his residence, 1. 303—
his family, 1.303.
Sterna Hirundo, 1. 69, 80.
Stiftsamptman, visit to the, 1. 59-his residence, 1. 59,
60, 61-his reception of the party, 1. 60-his eider
ducks, 1. 63-his entertainment described, 1. 66
and seq.
Sturleson, Snorro, 1. 311, 312, note.
Suaversen, Gardar, visits Iceland, 1. x.
Sulphur, encouragement for the gathering of, 11. 363.
Sulphur-springs, 1. 329.
Summer, light at midnight during the, 1. 57.
Swans, 1. 273.
Swein-a-scaur, 1. 268.
Syre, 1. 120.
Systrastapi, 11. 144.
Talbot sloop of war, departs from Iceland, 1. 365.
Thingevalle, lake of, 1. 98-parsonage of, 1. 105–
church of, 1. 114-priest of, 1. 105, 108.
Thorlevsen, Biarne, his petition to the governor, 11. 29,
note.
Thorvaldsen, the son of an Icelander, a famous statuary
at Rome, 1. lxxxii.
Trade of Iceland, 1. lxxxiv. 11. 353.
Tradesmen, encouragement for their establishing them-
selves in Iceland, 11. 368.
2 F
}
INDEX.
Tramp, Count, his arrival in Iceland, 1. 15-concludes
a convention with Captain Nott, 11. 16—his pro-
clamation against the English, II. 20-his seizure
by the English, II. 24.
Travelling, mode of in Iceland, 1. 91.
Trichostomum canescens, 1. 83, 85.
Tringa, new species of, 1. 5.
Troil, Archbishop Von, 1. 141.
Tungu-hver, 1. 309.
Undergrandur, 1. 121.
Vaccinium uliginosum, used in dying, 1. 215.
Vegetation, influence of the volcano of 1783, upon, 11.
221.
Vesuvius, dates of its eruptions, 11. 107, note.
Walrus, 1. 307.
Westman's Isles, 1.7.
Westring, Dr., 1. 215, note.
Wood, dug from the bogs, I. 94.
Workhouse, 1. 16.
Wright, Mr., I. V.
Zostera marina, used for bedding, 1. 111.
}
}
1


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