Strawberry-plants and violets, -
the former, however, without blossoms, and the latter inodorous, -
were springing up between the blocks of lava, together with
beautiful ferns eight or ten inches high. In spite of the trifling
distance, I noticed, as a rule, that vegetation was here more
luxuriant than at Reikjavik; for at the latter place I had found no
strawberry-plants, and the violets were not yet in blossom. This
difference in the vegetation is, I think, to be ascribed to the high
walls of lava existing in great abundance round Havenfiord; they
protect the tender plants and ferns from the piercing winds. I
noticed that both the grass and the plants before mentioned throve
capitally in the little hollows formed by masses of lava.
A couple of miles beyond Havenfiord I saw the first birch-trees,
which, however, did not exceed two or three feet in height, also
some bilberry-plants. A number of little butterflies, all of one
colour, and, as it seemed to me, of the same species, fluttered
among the shrubs and plants.
The manifold forms and varied outline of the lava-fields present a
remarkable and really a marvellous appearance. Short as this
journey is - for ten hours are amply sufficient for the trip to
Krisuvik, - it presents innumerable features for contemplation. I
could only gaze and wonder.
