les, and which is half-surrounded
by a wall of rock bending over it slightly at a height of about 2 feet,
and then rises 10 to 12 feet higher. This spring never is at rest more
than a minute; then it begins to rise and boil quickly, and emits a
voluminous column, which, striking against the projecting rock, is
flattened by it, and rises thence like an arched fan. The height of this
peculiarly-spread jet of water may be about 12 feet, the arch it
describes 15 to 20 feet, and its breadth 3 to 8 feet. The time of
eruption is often longer than that of repose. After an eruption the
water always sinks a few feet into the cave, and for 15 or 20 seconds
admits of a glance into this wonderful grotto. But it rises again
immediately, fills the grotto and the basin, which is only a continuation
of the grotto, and springs again.

I watched this miraculous play of nature for more than an hour, and could
not tear myself from it. This spring, which is certainly the only one of
its kind, gratified me much more than the little Geyser.

There is another spring called the roaring Geyser; but it is nothing more
than a misshapen hole, in which one hears the water boil, but cannot see
it. The noise is, also, not at all considerable.

July 3d.

Near Reikum we crossed a brook into which all the hot springs flow, and
which has a pretty fall. We then ascended the adjoining mountain, and
rode full two hours on the high plain. The plain itself was monotonous,
as it was only covered with lava-stones and moss, but the prospect into
the valley was varied and beautiful. Vale and sea were spread before me,
and I saw the Westmann Islands, with their beautiful hills, which the
envious clouds had concealed from me on the Hecla, lying in the distance.
Below me stood some houses in the port-town, Eierbach, and near them the
waters of the Elvas flow into the sea.

At the end of this mountain-level a valley was situated, which was also
filled with lava, but with that jagged black lava which presents such a
beautiful appearance. Immense streams crossed it from all sides, so that
it almost resembled a black lake separated from the sea by a chain of
equally black mountains.

We descended into this sombre vale through piles of lava and fields of
snow, and went on through valleys and chasms, over fields of lava, plains
of meadow-land, past dark mountains and hills, till we reached the