Purchas his pilgrimes. part 3 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

Of the wonderfull standing Pooles, Lakes and Fountaynes in Iseland.

IN diuers places almost throughout the wh••le Iland are Bathes and scalding Fountaynes,* 1.1 which flow out in great abundance. This water as soone as it begins to coole, hath a Sulphurie sub∣stance in the top thereof. In these scalding waters, wherein I could scarse dippe my finger, red Diue-doppers are seene afarre off, if you come neerer, they vanish, if you depart, they appeare a∣gaine, so all day long (if any please) they play boe-peepe with men.* 1.2 Whether they bee Diue-doppers [ 50] indeed, I leaue it to others to decide.

At the West of this Iland, there is a huge smoakie Lake, and very cold, which turneth all things that are cast into it into stones, and that in few dayes,* 1.3 and (which is worthy of great ad∣miration) if you put a sticke vpright into the bottome, the lower part which is stucke into the earth, hath the resemblance and hardnesse of Iron after two dayes, that which was in the water hath the hardnesse and shew of a Stone, the vpper part which remayned aboue the water, kee∣peth his wonted forme: And I twice proued the truth of this thing,* 1.4 but when I put the lower part (which represented Iron) to the fire that it might melt, it burned like a Coale.

There are two Fountaynes of most different qualitie, in a place vpon the Sea coast, which is called Turlocks Hauen, the one cold, the other hot; these Fountaynes by pipes are drawne into [ 60] one place, and tempered for bathing, they make a most wholesome Bath. Not farre from these Fountaynes, there is a certaine other Fountayne, which bubbles foorth liquor like Wax,* 1.5 which notably cureth the French disease, which is very common there.

Not farre from the Hauen Haffnefordt, there is a cleft in a Rocke like to a Fountayne of vn∣measurable

depth. If you looke into it, you cannot see the water, but if you cast in a stone, halfe an houre after you shall heare it falling, as if it fell into brazen Vessels, and forthwith the water ariseth, and it is filled to the top of the Wels brimme, and it is a most cleere water, which not∣withstanding no man dare touch, nor taste, neither doth it flow out, but so long after, as the stone which is cast in, sinketh to the bottome. There is another Lake in the middle of the Iland, which casteth forth a pestiferous fume, insomuch as it killeth Birds flying ouer it with the poy∣son thereof.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hot Bathes.
• * 1.2

  Diue-doppers.
• * 1.3

  Stone-making water.
• * 1.4

  Note.
• * 1.5

  French disease.