Year: 1874

and would have had but for the fact that party
OF some sort mad got there before him and engaged
IT, And they really seemed pleased with the
idea that they could keep king from the only dry
place In all Thingyalla. But somehow or other he
got in as any other mortal might and got nap,
and no doubt much disgusted, ordered every
oody up at an unusually early hour and marched
on for the Geysers with bis enormous cavaicade.


we were far enough ahead OF him to be out OF
MS way. Even when we halted at the mi Idle Of
the march for lunch and TO give the ponies q
chance to Craze he did not overtake us. few
scattering horses only were seen We mounted
to ride away.


THE VALLEY PRIMEvAL-


the day was a most enjoyable one. Although
the night had been chilly and damp. the day was
sunny and warm, and the scenery was infinitely
finer than on the previous day. First, we made
our way along the banks OF the Oxara River for q
mile, and then leaving this started Off directly to
cross the Thingvala plain. II was very dreaIy
ride About mile from the Oxara we came upon
little farm. but otherwise there were signs OF
lie, except as we now ana then heard the mourn
tul call OF the wimble the plalntive cry OF the
plover, and sometimes caught sight of them. The
party, however, was LII SO great O hurry
especially the guides-tO get ahead and
keep the spare horses from mixing with
tHS Ming tuut, WltuOuC TlSk VI UcllS lclb
behind altogether, we had very little chance for
sport. Yet Mr. G. managed to bag brace or
SO Of birds while held his pony, and then we
galloped on after the party, and did not try our
luck again until We had come near our MONDAY
halting place, w1en we discovered numerous
nocks OF plover and secured enough for hearty
meal all round But to go back to


THE CHAsMs IN THE LAVA BEDS.


We crossed the Thingvalla plain by a most CIR
cuitous route In about two hours, and, mounting
an activity at angle of about fortylve degrees,
crossed the Hrafna Ga at the only place where it Is
passabe TO man or beast. And ~ Is scarcely less
wild and wonderful than its sister, the more
famous Amana GA on the other side. The great
yawning rift IS IN places almost as 1t was when
the crack in the lava first occurred but in
other places the lofty walls have broken down and
the piles of detached fragments, sometimes almost
bridging the rilt, tell of the influences OF time in
its steady work OF decay ana change.


MOUNTAIN GIRDLED LAKE,


Once over the rift and az the summit OF The
plain which stretches away 1or many miles
paused little while to view the scene. 1t WAS in.
deed a wonderful picture. To the left, mirror
ing as If 1t were silver table the clear blue
sky. lay the beautiful mountain girded Thing.
valla Lake; above it, clothed in shadow lowered
the dark Vellankalla; before me stretched the
Thingvala plain, which we had crossed, clothed
here and there with verdure, with what are here
called forests-mere cu1nps of dwarf brcnes
peeping up occasionally; beyond rose the majestic
Amana Gja, over which, as q silver thread could
be plainly seen the Oxara waterfall, while away
beyond to the right rose the dark-crested
Armannsiell and the snow-capped Skjaldbreith
and the purple HlUthule 1t Is one of the pic
lures have seen to day not easily forgotten.


THE LAVA PLAIN.


The lava plain, which we crossed after leaving
the Hrafna GJa, Is even more desolate ana dreary
than that which we crossed on approaching
the Almana Gja. One larm house only did
we see, and that quite near the ga. The plains
presented most singular scene. The lava had in
many places wasted away with time. leaving only
rough hummocks here and there, which in multi
tude though not III picturesqueness may be best
compared to stumps in q vast clearing, embracing
many thousands OF acres. For miles and miles we
wound around among these lava hummocKs with
out seeing single trace OF vegetation except
some tufts OF grass and patches of stOnecrop
and green moss. Then we wound about the base
Of great mountain and came down into


LITTLE GREEN VALLEY.


The outline Of the mountain, seen from this
l fell behind the party long enough to make a
hasty sketch OF it, and long enough also inspect
remarkable cave at its base From this valley we
crossed a series OF low ridges, and these opened
before us the valley OF Laugardalr. where we
halted Tor lunch and to bait the ponies.


l. l. HAYES.