more tremendous than any recorded in the modern annals of
Iceland; and the original Danish narrative of the catastrophe, drawn up
in great detail, has since been substantiated by several English
travellers, particularly in regard to the prodigious extent of country
laid waste, and the volume of lava produced.[584] About a month previous
to the eruption on the mainland, a submarine volcano burst forth in the
sea in lat. 63 degrees 25 minutes N., long. 23 degrees 44 minutes W., at
a distance of thirty miles in a southwest direction from Cape Reykianas,
and ejected so much pumice, that the ocean was covered with that
substance to the distance of 150 miles, and ships were considerably
impeded in their course. A new island was thrown up, consisting of high
cliffs, within which fire, smoke, and pumice were emitted from two or
three different points. This island was claimed by his Danish Majesty,
who denominated it Nyoe, or the New Island; but before a year had
elapsed, the sea resumed its ancient domain, and nothing was left but a
reef of rocks from five to thirty fathoms under water.

_Great eruption of Skaptar Jokul._--Earthquakes which had long been felt
in Iceland, became violent on the 11th of June, 1783, when Skaptar
Jokul, distant nearly 200 miles from Nyoe, threw out a torrent of lava
which flowed down into the river Skapta, and completely dried it up. The
channel of the river was between high rocks, in many places from four
hundred to six hundred feet in depth, and near two hundred in breadth.
Not only did the lava fill up this great defile to the brink, but it
overflowed the adjacent fields to a considerable extent. The burning
flood, on issuing from the confined rocky gorge, was then arrested for
some time by a deep lake, which formerly existed in the course of the
river, between Skaptardal and Aa, which it entirely filled. The current
then advanced again, and reaching some ancient lava full of
subterraneous caverns, penetrated and melted down part of it; and in
some places, where the steam could not gain vent, it blew up the rock,
throwing fragments to the height of more than 150 feet. On the 18th of
June another ejection of liquid lava rushed from the volcano, which
flowed down with amazing velocity over the surface of the first stream.
By the damming up of the mouths of some of the tributaries of the
Skapta, many villages were completely overflowed with water, and thus
great destruction of property was caused. T