Letters on Iceland: containing observations on the natural history of the country, antiquities, manners and customs of the inhabitants, &c. &c. Made, during a voyage undertaken in the year 1772, by Sir Joseph Banks, P.R.S. assisted by Dr. Solander, F.R.S. Dr. J. Lind, F.R.S. and several other literary and ingenious gentlemen / written by Uno von Troil ; with notes and additions by the translator. The whole revised and corrected by E. Mendes da Costa.

  • Troil, Uno von, 1746-1803.
Date:
1783
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Letters on Iceland: containing observations on the natural history of the country, antiquities, manners and customs of the inhabitants, &c. &c. Made, during a voyage undertaken in the year 1772, by Sir Joseph Banks, P.R.S. assisted by Dr. Solander, F.R.S. Dr. J. Lind, F.R.S. and several other literary and ingenious gentlemen / written by Uno von Troil ; with notes and additions by the translator. The whole revised and corrected by E. Mendes da Costa. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    1766, when it began to vomit flames on the firfl of April, burnt for a long while, and deflroyed the country many miles around. Lafl December fome flames likewife proceeded from it; and the people in the neighboiuv hood believe it will begin to burn again very foon, as they pretend to have obferved, tliat the rivers there- abouts are drying up. It is believed that this proceeds from the mountain’s attrafling the water, and is confldered as a certain fign of an impending erup- tion. Befides this, the mountains of IVIyvatn and Kattlegia are known in this century, on account of the vio^ .lent eruptions of the former, between the years 1.730 and 1740, and of the latter in 1756. But permit me, Sir, to omit a farther account of the volcano at this time*, in order to fpeak of anotiier effed: of the fire, which is more curious and as won- derful as theflrfl, therefore miifl be the more remarkable, as there is not in * Dr. Troil treats more at large of the Icelandic volcanoes in his 18th and 19th letters; and in the 20th he (peaks mere particularly of Mount Heckla. any