looking farms I have seen in Iceland. It is clothed with rich grass, amongst which I observed a vast proportion of wild clover; the meadows are well watered, and afford plenty of hay, and the mountains yield excellent pasture for the sheep. The farms of Holltastad and Geitaskard, particularly struck me as possessing a very superior appearance, the latter of which owes its present form to the skill and diligence of the excellent Justiciary Einarson, who dwelt here when Sysselman of the district.

After pitching my tent in the evening, and just as I had begun to fill up my Journal, the arrival of a large caravan was announced, two of the conductors of which came to pay me a visit, and seemed wonderfully gratified with the sight of an Englishman, there never having been any of my countrymen in this quarter before. One of them was a goldsmith, well known in Iceland for the neatness and perfection of his workmanship, which almost rivals that of the best artists in Copenhagen, though he has never learned the trade, or been out of his native island. He has also made a watch without any assistance. assistance. The other I took at first to be of a dull and stupid turn of mind, but we had not conversed many minutes when he began to expatiate on a plurality of worlds, with an eloquence and exactitude that perfectly astonished me. "There is, for instance, Jupiter and Saturn, and-" forgetting, and placing his hand on his forehead, “and—the planet lately discovered by Dr Herschel in London. They must be inhabited; they are of the same nature with our earth; they are not globes of fire." Though disappointed in his expectations of obtaining absolute certainty from me on the subject, he was pleased to find that I agreed with him as to its extreme probability, and regretted much that it was not in his power to visit the Doctor, as he had many questions to propose to him on this and similar topics.

Leaving Langa-dal on the 27th, I proceeded round the end of the mountains to Höskulstad, where I met with a hearty reception from the Dean of Hunavatns Syssel, an aged man, who has filled this office for thirty years, takes a

lively interest in the spread of the Gospel, and could not sufficiently express his gratitude for the good done to the parishes within his jurisdiction, by their having been put in possession of the word of life. All the copies that had come to the neighbouring factory had instantly been disposed of; and, in some of the dales, every house had been provided with the treasure. In the evening, I rode with the Dean to Skagastrand, where I experienced the most hospitable treatment from Mr Schram, to whose exertion the Society is indebted for the speedy distribution of the Scriptures in this quarter of Iceland.

The factory consists of two dwelling-houses, a shop, and three or four warehouses, and is pleasantly situated at the northern termination of a small creek, formed by the projection of a ridge of irregular columnar rocks, the continuation of which is visible at a short distance in the sea, where they assume more of a basaltic appearance. From the top of the rocks, you have a fine prospect of the spacious gulf, which, further up, opens into the Huna, Mid, and Hruta Fiords, on the opposite coasts of which rise the bold promontories and snow-capped mountains in Stranda Syssel, receding in irregular perspective till they are terminated by the North Cape. Behind the factory is the high mountain of Spákonufell, the summit of which bears a striking resemblance to the walls of a fort, and to both sides stretch a range of lower mountains, which are broken every now and then by intervening vallies. Near Höskuldstad is a most beautiful display of basaltic rocks; some of which still occupy their original positions, and others are thrown down, and lie scat tered about in every direction.

EXHIBITION OF BASALTS NEAR HÖSKULDSTAD.

Published by Waugh & Innes Bookellers. 2. Hunters Square Edinburgh. B819.

CHAP. XVI.

Leave Skagastrand-Hvam-Valley of Skagafiord-Drângey-Glaumbæ-Mælifell-Holum-Church of UrdirIntelligent Peasant-Mödrufell-Sira Jon Jonson-His excellent Character-Forms a Tract Society-Return through the Desert-Yfri Reykium-Alftavatn-Hot Springs of Reykium-Earthquakes-Sulphur Mountain, and Springs of Krisuvik-Leave Iceland-Arrive in Copenhagen.

On the 28th of July I again left Skagastrand, and pursued my course up a valley called Halladal, at the upper end of which I came to Thverâ, a small but neat farm belonging to Mr Schram, where I was treated with coffee, after which I entered a mountainous desert which lasted for several hours. About seven in the evening I descended into the Outer Laxárdal, and took up my abode for the night at the parsonage of Hvam, the occupant of which, Sira Vigfus Eirikson, expressed the greatest joy at seeing me, and did every thing in his power to accommodate me during my stay. He is a young man of considerable abilities, and actuated by a sincere desire to do good to the souls of his fellow men. It has long been his wish, and that of many of his brethren, that an annual meeting were held in the north of Iceland, to consist of such of the clergy as approved of it, for the purpose of encouraging each other in the work of the Lord. Situated as the clergy in Iceland are,-cut off from all communication with each other, they feel little or no community of interest; the great object is apt to dwindle away even where it has once been in sight; and a deplora

ble apathy, if not actual apostacy ensues.

Were they, on

the other hand, to assemble once or twice in the year, in or