Snioland, Or, Iceland, Its Jokulls and Fjalls  (English, Paperback, Watts William Lord)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1875. Excerpt: ... After lounging about for a week at Edinburgh, in June, 1874, we took our places on board the Diana, in company with a lively party of Danes, who had, no doubt, been looking forward to the invasion of us Britishers. Having seen our twenty boxes, with numerous other packages, portmanteaus, &c, carefully stowed away, I tried to find how many of the old faces I had become acquainted with in my former voyage of 1871 still remained. Among the passengers.1 was agreeably surprised to find Mr. Tompson, a Danish merchant of Reykjavick. Upon leaving the Frith of Forth, the volcanic formation of the mountains in this part of Scotland is very apparent, especially when sailing in a NE. direction. The saddle-backed volcano, Arthur's Seat, first comes prominently to view. There can be no doubt as to the force which created the surrounding mountains; a survey of the continuous B line of elevations, almost from the above-named mountain to the little conical hill upon the main land, opposite the Bass Rock, as well as the Bass Rock itself, confirms the opinion that they are of volcanic origin; and the comparison of these mountains with those of the Faroe Isles and Iceland attests the truth of such a conclusion. Upon rising next morning the appearance of the sky was anything but satisfactory; the sunrise was brilliant, though the sky was greasy, and screwy pieces of cloud were dispersed throughout the heavens. The barometer, however, was high, and the wind NNW. Towards midday it blew half a gale, a heavy sea rose, and we were almost all seasick except the Danes, who with few exceptions, I have often remarked, seldom suffer from that malady. June Ath.--Wind and sea were unabated; the wind had shifted to the east, and it was raining. The barometer fell half an inch. I fel...