After riding about nine miles we crossed the large stream of Elvas in a boat, and then had to tread carefully across a very long, narrow bank, over a meadow which was quite under water.

If a traveller had met us on this bank, I do not know what we should have done; to turn round would have been as dangerous as to sink into the morass.

Fortunately one never meets any travellers in Iceland.
Beyond the dyke the road runs for some miles along the mountains and hills, which all consist of lava, and are of a very dark, nearly black colour.

The stones on these hills were very loose; in the plain below many colossal pieces were lying, which must have fallen down; and many others threatened to fall every moment.

We passed the dangerous spot safely, without having had to witness such a scene.
I often heard a hollow sound among these hills; I at first took it for distant thunder, and examined the horizon to discover the approaching storm.