86 Observations on the Arctic Sea and Ice, and 



vate gardens. From this we ascended to the greatest height, 

 Pico del Pozo de las Nieves, 5842 feet high : but our expecta- 

 tion of surveying the whole island was not fulfilled. During the 

 whole day, the atmosphere was loaded with very dense vapour, 

 which was not aqueous, but which, on ail sides, obstructed our 

 vision. The nearest valleys were scarcely discernible, and the 

 sea-coast was perfectly invisible. The summit itself was not 

 much involved. It is a plain covered with small stones, with no 

 plants upon it. The beautiful Peucedanum aureum is the 

 only plant upon the height to reward the botanist for the labour 

 of cHmbing. On the contrary, S. Matheo, which commenced 

 near the top, welcomed us in a very pleasing and friendly man- 

 ner. For, in the midst of rushing waters, there are tall broad 

 leaved chesnut and nut trees ; and fruit trees of every kind are 

 scattered over the green fields in great abundance. In Leche- 

 guillo, the first place in the valley, and yet 3103 feet high, the 

 inhabitants met us in a very friendly manner. Their habitations, 

 surrounded with large galleries, and lying scattered on the de- 

 clivity, had quite a pastoral appearance, and the houses round 

 the church of S. Matheo were charmingly situated. We then 

 come to the vineyards and the villas of the inhabitants of Palmas. 

 The Vega de Sta Brigita, down to the scorching and violent heat 

 of the inferior region, permits the growth of nothing but prickly 

 small leaved shrubs. 



(To be continued.) 



Observations on the Arctic Sea and Ice, and the intended Ex- 

 pedition of Captain Parry to the North Pole. By Thomas 

 Latta, M. D. (Communicated by the Author.) 



XN earlier ages, when science was in its infancy, very erroneous 

 opinions were entertained, in regard to the nature of our globe. 

 It is scarce 300 years since its spherical shape was acknow- 

 ledged ; and, prior to that period, a very considerable propor- 

 tion of it was deemed uninhabitable ; for, those countries situ- 

 ated under the Line, were considered an arid waste, burnt up 

 by the fiery beams of a tropical sun, whilst it was supposed 

 that far to the north lay regions of eternal frost, entirely desti- 

 tute of organization. But these errors have disappeared with 



