about in the ocean, the weather is fickle and
stormy, and the current and ebb and flow
of the tide are all in disorder and confusion:
but, as soon as they become stationary in
the gulphs and inlets, and the waters have
carried away the smaller detached pieces,
nature returns to its accustomed state of
order and regularity; the weather growing
calm in the country, and the air thick and
loaded with fogs, though at the same time
accompanied by a moist and penetrating
cold. Among the inconveniences arising
from the arrival of this ice, besides the
excessive cold which destroys vegetation and
cattle, is to be reckoned the opportunity
it affords for the white bears of Greenland
to visit the country, which they occasionally
do in alarming numbers, and. render
"it necessary for the natives to assemble in
parties for the purpose of destroying them,
lest so unwelcome a Wsitor should fix himself
permanently among them.
In mentioning the general face of the
country, I cannot do better than copy the
exclamation of Von Troil on his arrival.
“ Imagine to yourself an island, which from
one end to the other presents to your view
only barren mountains, whose summits are
covered with eternal snow, and between them
fields divided by vitrified cliffs, whose high
and sharp points seem to vie with each
other to deprive you of the sight of a
little grass which scantily springs up among
them. These same dreary rocks likewise
conceal the few scattered habitations of the
natives, and no where does a single tree
appear which might afford shelter to friendship
and innocence. The prospect before
us, though not pleasing, was uncommon
and surprising. Whatever we saw bore
the marks of devastation, and our eyes,
accustomed to behold the pleasing coasts
of England, now saw nothing but the
vestiges of the operation of a fire, heaven
knows how ancient!” Of the mountains
of Iceland, some are composed of loose
fragments of rock to their vefy summit,
while others apparently retain their pri-
mseval form and nature, lying in horizontal
strata. The height of a very few has been
accurately ascertained; and these, though
said to measure nearly seven thousand feet
of elevation, are by no means the loftiest