ad and somewhat steep; it consists of lava strata,
and is divided lengthwise in the middle by a cleft eighteen to twenty
feet deep, and fifteen to eighteen feet broad, towards which the bubbling
and surging waters rush, so that the sound is heard at some distance. A
little wooden bridge, which stands in the middle of the stream, and over
which the high waves constantly play, leads over the chasm. Any one not
aware of the fact can hardly explain this appearance to himself, nor
understand the noise and surging of the stream. The little bridge in the
centre would be taken for the ruins of a fallen bridge, and the chasm is
not seen from the shore, because the foaming waves overtop it. An
indescribable fear would seize upon the traveller when he beheld the
venturous guide ride into the stream, and was obliged to follow without
pity or mercy.

The priest of Thingvalla had prepared me for the scene, and had advised
me to _walk_ over the bridge; but as the water at this season stood so
high that the waves from both sides dashed two feet above the bridge, I
could not descend from my horse, and was obliged to ride across.

The whole passage through the stream is so peculiar, that it must be
seen, and can scarcely be described. The water gushes and plays on all
sides with fearful force; it rushes into the chasm with impetuous
violence, forms waterfalls on both sides, and breaks itself on the
projecting rocks. Not far from the bridge the cleft terminates; and the
whole breadth of the waters falls over rocks thirty to forty feet high.
The nearer we approached the centre, the deeper, more violent, and
impetuous grew the stream, and the more deafening was the noise. The
horses became restless and shy; and when we came to the bridge, they
began to tremble, they reared, they turned to all sides but the right
one, and refused to obey the bridle. With infinite trouble we at last
succeeded in bringing them across this dangerous place.

The valley which is traversed by this peculiar river is narrow, and quite
enclosed by lava mountains and hills; the inanimate, silent nature around
is perfectly adapted to imprint this scene for ever on the traveller's
memory.

This remarkable stream had been the last difficulty; and now we proceeded
quietly and safely through the beautiful valleys till we approached the
Geyser, which a projecting hillock enviously concealed from my anxiously
curious gaze. At last this hillock was passed; and I s