Curiosities of Olden TimesBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
History
Curiosities of Olden Times
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Curiosities and wonders
Lang Jökull is an immense waste of snow-covered mountain, extending about
forty-three miles from north-east to south-west, of breadth varying
between eight and twelve miles. The mass rises into points of greater
elevation along the edge than, apparently, towards the centre; and these
mountains go by the names of Ball Jökull, Geitlands Jökull, Skjaldbreid
Jökull, Blàfell Jökull, and Hrutafell. Skjaldbreid Jökull is opposite the
volcanic dome of Skjaldbreid, an extinct volcano, with its base steeped in
a sea of lava. Due east of Geitlands Jökull is another glacier-crowned
dome, called Ok, from which it is cut off by a trench of desolate ruined
rock filled with the rubbish brought down by the avalanches on either
side--a rift between black walls of trap, crowned with green precipices
of ice, which are constantly sliding over the rocky edges and falling with
a crash into the valley: this valley is called Kaldidalr, or the cold
dale--a title it well deserves. Those who traverse it from the south
encamp at a little patch of turf around some springs, at the foot of
Skjaldbreid, Brunnir by name, and thence have twelve hours’ hard riding
before they see grass again on the Hvitá, north of Ok. Half-way through
this Allée Blanche is a mountain of trachyte, which has been protruded
through the trap, from which it is clearly distinguishable by its silvery
gray and ruddy streaked precipices, so different in colour from the
purple-black of the trap.
This mountain is called Thorir’s Head, and is popularly supposed to mask
the dale discovered by Grettir.
The elaborate map of Iceland published by Gunnlaugson indicates the valley
as winding from opposite Skjaldbreid to this point, but this is
conjectural; and it will be seen by the sequel that it is inaccurate.
North of Geitlands Jökull is an extraordinary dish-cover-shaped cake of
ice raised on precipitous sides, called Eîrek’s Jökull, a magnificent, but
peculiar pile of basalt, ice, and snow.
Before proceeding with the narrative of Messrs. Olafsen and Povelsen, and
of the two clergymen, we may observe that several circumstances tend to
give a colour of probability to the account in the _Gretla_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account