196 Scientific Intelligence — Meteorology . 



mulated without any lateral support, as tliougli a stream of water had 

 issued from a particular spot, and become congealed as it descended ; 

 tlms forming a nucleus, which gradually increased, and rose as the 

 stream poured its water? over its accumulating surface, until, in the 

 course of ages, the mass has attained its present bulky dimensions. 



The fourth and largest occupies the head of the bay, and extends 

 from two to three miles inland. Numerous large rents in its upper 

 surface, occasioned, perhaps, either by its own motion, or by the sub- 

 sidence of its foundation, have caused it to be gratuitously named the 

 " Waggon Way,'' in accordance with the supposed resemblance which 

 these fissures bear to the ruts left by the waggon. 



From the circumstance of the sea being of great depth imme- 

 diately off these glaciers, they are prevented making an undue en- 

 croachment upon the bay, and, indeed, from filling it up, which, if 

 the water were shallow, would, in the course of time, inevitably be 

 the case, either by the grounding of the pieces which break away 

 from the frontage, or by the berg finding a foundation to advance 

 upon. At present, the warmth of the sea prevents the accumula- 

 tion of the ice below a certain depth, and, during the summer, so 

 far undermines the accumulation of the winter, that large masses fall 

 off by their own superincumbent weight, and are carried out to sea ; 

 so that the berg is thus kept within due bounds. The frontage of the 

 waggon way presents a perpendicular surface of 300 feet high, by 

 7000 feet in length. Nevertheless, upon so gigantic a scale is all 

 nature around, that, although of these stupendous dimensions, neither 

 this glacier, nor any of the numerous and beautiful variety, creates 

 much astonishment in the mind of the beholder, until he approaches 

 within the influence of the hlink or luminous haze, which is invaria- 

 bly radiated by large masses of ice. At this distance, the wall of 

 ice has an awfully grand appearance, heightened perhaps by a sense 

 of the personal danger to which so near an approach must expose 

 the spectator ; for large pieces have occasionally broken away from 

 this berg, which have done considerable mischief. The soft blue 

 tint of the surface of the ice is here also clearly discerned, whilst the 

 long, sparkling icicles, pendant from the roofs of the caverns, and a 

 variety of curious shapes, which may also be traced on the face of 

 the glacier, serve greatly to increase the interest and admiration. 



On a perfectly calm day, when the blink of the ice is strong, a curi- 

 ous deception is produced by the combined effect of the ice below the 

 surface of the water, and the perfect reflection of that above. The 

 sea presents a white, creamy appearance ; the seals sporting on its 



