letters from high latitudes-第11节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
s； but his dolefulness； like a bit of minor in a sparkling melody； only made our jollity more radiant。 In about half an hour Sigurdr gave the signal for a start； and having caught； saddled； and bridled three unridden ponies； we drove Snorro and his companions to the front； and proceeded on our way rejoicing。 After an hour's gradual ascent through a picturesque ravine； we emerged upon an immense desolate plateau of lava； that stretched away for miles and miles like a great stony sea。 A more barren desert you cannot conceive。 Innumerable boulders； relics of the glacial period； encumbered the track。 We could only go at a foot…pace。 Not a blade of grass； not a strip of green； enlivened the prospect； and the only sound we heard was the croak of the curlew and the wail of the plover。 Hour after hour we plodded on； but the grey waste seemed interminable； boundless； and the only consolation Sigurdr would vouchsafe was； that our journey's end lay on this side of some purple mountains that peeped like the tents of a demon leaguer above the stony horizon。
As it was already eight o'clock； and we had been told the entire distance from Reykjavik to Thingvalla was only five…and…thirty miles； I could not comprehend how so great a space should still separate us from our destination。 Concluding more time had been lost in shooting； lunching； etc。； by the way than we had supposed； I put my pony into a canter； and determined to make short work of the dozen miles which seemed still to lie between us and the hills； on this side of which I understood from Sigurdr our encampment for the night was to be pitched。
Judge then of my astonishment when； a few minutes afterwards； I was arrested in full career by a tremendous precipice； or rather chasm； which suddenly gaped beneath my feet； and completely separated the barren plateau we had been so painfully traversing from a lovely； gay； sunlit flat； ten miles broad； that laysunk at a level lower by a hundred feetbetween us and the opposite mountains。 I was never so completely taken by surprise； Sigurdr's purposely vague description of our halting…place was accounted for。
We had reached the famous Almanna Gja。 Like a black rampart in the distance； the corresponding chasm of the Hrafna Gja cut across the lower slope of the distant hills； and between them now slept in beauty and sunshine the broad verdant ＇Footnote： The plain of Thingvalla is in a great measure clothed with birch brushwood。＇ plain of Thingvalla。
Ages ago；who shall say how long？some vast commotion shook the foundations of the island； and bubbling up from sources far away amid the inland hills； a fiery deluge must have rushed down between their ridges； until； escaping from the narrower gorges； it found space to spread itself into one broad sheet of molten stone over an entire district of country； reducing its varied surface to one vast blackened level。
One of two things then occurred： either the vitrified mass contracting as it cooled；the centre area of fifty square miles burst asunder at either side from the adjoining plateau； and sinking down to its present level； left the two parallel Gjas； or chasms； which form its lateral boundaries； to mark the limits of the disruption； or else； while the pith or marrow of the lava was still in a fluid state； its upper surface became solid； and formed a roof beneath which the molten stream flowed on to lower levels； leaving a vast cavern into which the upper crust subsequently plumped down。 ＇Footnote： I feel it is very presumptuous in me to hazard a conjecture on a subject with which my want of geological knowledge renders me quite incompetent to deal； but however incorrect either of the above suppositions may be justly considered by the philosophers； they will perhaps serve to convey to the unlearned reader； for whose amusement （not instruction） these letters are intended； the impression conveyed to my mind by what I saw； and so help out the picture I am trying to fill in for him。＇
＇Figure： fig…p050a。gif＇
The enclosed section will perhaps help you a little to comprehend what I am afraid my description will have failed to bring before you。
＇Figure： fig…p050。gif with following caption： 1 Gjas。 2 Lava deluge。 3 Original surface。 4 Thingvalla sunk to a lower level。 5 Astonished traveller。＇
1。 Are the two chasms called respectively Almanna Gja； ＇Footnote： Almanna may be translated main； it means literally all men's； when applied to a road； it would mean the road along which all the world travel。＇ or Main Gja； and Hrafna Gja； or Raven's Gja。 In the act of disruption the sinking mass fell in； as it were； upon itself； so that one side of the Gja slopes a good deal back as it ascends； the other side is perfectly perpendicular； and at the spot I saw it upwards of one hundred feet high。 In the lapse of years the bottom of the Almanna Gja has become gradually filled up to an even surface； covered with the most beautiful turf； except where a river； leaping from the higher plateau over the precipice； has chosen it for a bed。 You must not suppose； however； that the disruption and land…slip of Thingvalla took place quite in the spick and span manner the section might lead you to imagine； in some places the rock has split asunder very unevenly； and the Hrafna Gja is altogether a very untidy rent； the sides having fallen in in many places； and almost filled up the ravine with ruins。 On the other hand； in the Almanna Gja； you can easily distinguish on the one face marks and formations exactly corresponding； though at a different level； with those on the face opposite； so cleanly were they separated。
＇Figure： fig…p051。gif with the following caption： 1 Plain of Thingvalla。 2 Lake。 3 Lava plateau。 4 Almanna Gja。 5 Rabna Gja。＇
2。 Is the sea of lava now lying on the top of the original surface。 Its depth I had no means of ascertaining。
3。 Is the level of the surface first formed when the lava was still hot。
4。 Is the plain of Thingvalla； eight miles broad； its surface shattered into a network of innumerable crevices and fissures fifty or sixty feet deep； and each wide enough to have swallowed the entire company of Korah。 At the foot of the plain lies a vast lake； into which； indeed； it may be said to slope； with a gradual inclination from the north； the imprisoned waters having burst up through the lava strata； as it subsided beneath them。 Gazing down through their emerald depths； you can still follow the pattern traced on the surface of the bottom； by cracks and chasms similar to those into which the dry portion of Thingvalla has been shivered。
The accompanying ground plan will； I trust； complete what is wanting to fill up the picture I so long to conjure up before the mind's eye。 It is the last card I have to play； and； if unsuccessful； I must give up the task in despair。 But to return to where I left myself； on the edge of the cliff； gazing down with astonished eyes over the panorama of land and water embedded at my feet。 I could scarcely speak for pleasure and surprise； Fitz was equally taken aback； and as for Wilson； he looked as if he thought we had arrived at the end of the world。 After having allowed us sufficient time to admire the prospect Sigurdr turned to the left； along the edge of the precipice； until we reached a narrow pathway accidentally formed down a longitudinal niche in the splintered face of the cliff； which led across the bottom； and up the opposite side of the Gja； into the plain of Thingvalla。 By rights our tents ought to have arrived before us； but when we reached the little glebe where we expected to find them pitched； no signs of servants； guides； or horses were to be seen。 As we had not overtaken them ourselves； their non…appearance was inexplicable。 Wilson suggested that； the cook having died on the road； the rest of the party must have turned aside to bury him； and that we had passed unperceived during the interesting ceremony。 Be the cause what it might； the result was not agreeable。 We were very tired； very hungry； and it had just begun to rain。
It is true there was a clergyman's house and a church； both built of stones covered with turf sods； close by； at the one； perhaps； we could get milk； and in the other we could sleep； as our bettersincluding Madame Pfeifferhad done before us； but its inside looked so dark； and damp； and cold； and charnel…like； that one really doubted whether lying in the churchyard would not be snugger。 You may guess； then； how great was my relief when our belated baggage…train was descried against the sky…line； as it slowly wended its way along the purple edge of the precipice towards the staircase by which we had already descended。
Half an hour afterwards the little plot of grass selected for the site of our encampment was covered over with poles； boxes； cauldrons； tea…kettles； and all the paraphernalia of a gipsy settlement。 Wilson's Kaffir experience came at once into play； and under his solemn but effective superintendence； in less than twenty minutes the horn…headed tent rose； dry and taut； upon the sward。 Having carpeted the floor with oil…skin rugs； and arranged our three beds with their clean crisp sheets； blankets； and coverlets complete； at the back； he proceeded to lay out the dinner
