The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-27

Mr.. Thorcddsen has to earn his living. and
he is able to devote only his summer vacation
to his researches: but in the past ten years he
has spent 500 days in the saddle and has
travelled 5000 miles among the sand and lava
wastes. tho mountains and valleys OF inner
Iceland. He has not concluded his researches.
but tho districts he has not yet visited are
quite small and il he lives few years longer
he will have mapped every important topo-
graphic feature and studied every glacier and
geological feature that Is to be found upon the
inland plateau. As a man who is engaged in
scientific work for the pure love OF 1t. and
makes the weeks OF his playtime add some
thing to tho stock Of information, Thoroddsen
deserves to be moro generally known.
It Is not surprising that the greater part OF
inner Iceland should have been unknown be-
fore Thoroddsen took up the work. The
stretches OF lavn-strewn lands include large
areas that arc destitute OF grass. and the trav-
eller must carry fodder for his horses for many
days ct time The summon Is short, tho
roadIoss interior Is difficult TO traverse. aud
explorers do not like to spend long. proftless
winters In Iceland. or to travel so far for the
results they may obtain In the brief summer.
Naturallsts and explorers have confined their
attention almost entirely to the Inhabited
parts OF the island. Let us glance Mt some d!f-
Ncultios Thoroddsen has encountered.
Nowhere in Iceland Is there wagon road.
In the inhabited districts foot paths. worn by
pack and riding animals. connect the centres
Of population. Outside the settled regions
one may travel where he can. guided only BY
his compass. Thoroddsen never sallies forth
on his trips before July for snow covers the
highlands till late IN the spring. aud grass
ltst appears In favored places In July. while It
Is not available for pasturaRe in some OF the
higher regions till August, The weather
among those IpIsnis Is alTay u;.. raw and and
o o"srIHeimed By snow storms in midsummer.
Tho wind blows frequently with almost the
man or beast to make Roadway against the
driving storms OF volcanic ashes and SAND that
the view anf s
be packed on sledges or in boats. Everything
In Inner Iceland must, hoWevef: Dc t e@r itS on
provisions. Instruments. tent. sleeping bags.
s@ So saEse
e discard every pound OF baggage that can BE- b,
odGsp T 1897 daH %
Der Of horses. and hay must be carried Tor use
% sa ireanS ees Of HORSES IS 'Ws
sdaptod for ropghipg 1t. and some OF Ihorodd.
sens animals have become almost as expert as
's good ~s 1s the work Is enjoyable for
In the many aspects Of nature h. is studying.
When however. as frequently happens me
ssow t or .aad it 10 is a:rsnt matts The
anEr the q s1g gW Sas
water so discoored that il Is impossible to
gee to the bottom and nudge OF the nature o.
Ma2 nnS hs ari fhs
o. iording places that involve the least danger
In 1855 fhoroddsen explored the many.
armed peninsula that luts from the northwess
august II ruiupl and Snowp1 necessarily, Inc
iistIe party we're instantly drsnched; and had
no oppGrtunlty to dry their clothing. The
coast were steep and slippery, yet they had to
Do climbed in order accurately to map the
the mountain wall drenrhed at every step by
t ,Hn, sur daSnlng against is foot The horses
Ssr3aS Places: and on tho mountain tops re
Sar,y hah to wade knee deep in snow. In the
uch ai0a these n m STe aen
tered, The story Of Thoroddson's adventures
s pay mat t 9HXp!"raon in Iceland is no boys
fodder Everywhere the explorer is on the
til Of ice nIio are oononsa to
ene loWlands and to- few valleys comprising
S ahEy, t9pbeI.ionr,eenth Of the total area Some
hahited and this is the mountain capped pla-
End reared above the sea by putonic forces.
Four,niths Of this dismal waste, diyersined
scene Of Thoroddsen abors I Here 1G Ge b bas
found scores of square miles cuverod with
lava overhows. which, in the geological era
preceding tho age 81 man. are suppossd TO
have hardened into roek. In valleys sroHped
}Glt OF tough basalt no has discovered deep
!akos. Cne curious lake which he found near
!hc sea fiaes ahout 100 feot above sea loyel
!holgh It's bottom waters are HIJ fcet below
lEo level OF tho ocean. Then hore and there
oHer tho lnnor plateau arc grouped many iittIe
IRkeS that were formed by the moraine which
we : larIors left in great heaps that damned
'he streams and collected thor waters
another type OF lakes is found in great
kDuhdduce. The surface OF tho plateau ls
MARKED VI many crnters. which are now the
ETHcoptacle oil tho drainage from tho mountnins,
,MH,est y the latna Jokull or glacier. In 1889.
i1huroddseh discovered one OF the finest and
iETtsest groups OF crater lakes that IL known
1ho region far around Is covered with colos-
"a, wator-ll'ed craters. We are all familiar
Mth photographs OF the moon showing count.
i"a5 craicrs scattered over the surface OF the
IhIchsH eIp lnse OF rock. Thoroddsen says lie
az n,s heeh N Iceland landscapes that would re-
."nnIS nose the moon presents to us II IL
iGWn rot Tor the greenish expanse OF water
''lnE 10" ,|Hsn the coal black lava fields.
,rW"Irl4Sen has found tho study OF thin
Wa 'l'a a fascinating one. Ho has spent
inery long various lava flows, some OF iheia
thbH1,E !housands Of years older than oslora,
Va, spIeai for many miles around Volcanic
.; In',h ne mas studied and mapped hHnarods
a. nLsEty glaciers that move toward tho sea:
4 go '-''@Al rivals AlaS%a "a a brCedsr 1t ga.