church, houses, and the whole neighboring country, were, on the following night, entirely 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 eighteen hundred feet from the most northern of these, where, however, no considerable injury was sustained.

The fire-stream spread itself greatly towards the west, over the river Fedgaqvisl, and overflowed the farms Sydri and Efrifliota, together with the houses and lands. Although the farm Hnausa has not been destroyed by the fire, yet the rivers Steinsmyrarfliot and Fedgaqvisl, in consequence of their being dammed up, had caused it to be almost buried under water, which

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.

New eruptions.

§ XII.

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 Skaptartunga 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 pouring 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

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 northwest 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, immediately to the north of Hnausar.

In the mean while, one of the eastern branches before mentioned proceeded over

the Landbrot, along the Skaptaa, which led to it, and destroyed in the way several places; stopping at last in the midst of Hraunsmelar, 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 continued 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 waterfall 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

the greater part of the meadows and pasturelands, 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 approach of the lava-stream, and on the opposite 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 utmost, one mile west of Kirkebai-cloister.

At

§ XIII.

Another fire-stream

my

Hitherto I have confined 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 destruction caused by it in Medalland, and the countries adjoining the Skaptaa, which lie

* Systrastapi has received its name from a traditionary story about two sisters, who, it is said, were discovered fighting on this rock.