FATIGUING EXCURSION TO SHORE. 1S1 



There was nothing besides the novelty of having 

 been on shore, to repay me for the trouble and 

 falls which I met with in getting there. A bare 

 jutting or rounded piece of granite was visible 

 here and there, the rest was covered with snow, 

 steep and inaccessible, and dipping to the 

 water's edge. It was a desolate solitude which, 

 from the absence of all tracks, seemed to be 

 equally abandoned by man and animals. At 

 that part, at least, there was no shelter ; and 

 when I reflected on the dangers by which we 

 were encompassed, and the casualties which 

 might befal us, I could not refrain from casting 

 an anxious look towards the ship, whose masts 

 alone were in sight above the peaked hummocks, 

 and imploring the protection of heaven. 



The fatigue I experienced from my walk did 

 not arise from the distance, which at most could 

 not exceed six miles, but from the unevenness of 

 the surface, which, from the smooth and in some 

 places deep coating of snow that covered it, was 

 extremely deceitful. In stepping forward, it 

 often happened that my show-shoe was canted 

 over by some sharp piece out of sight, and I 

 myself thrown dowm ; but worse than this were 

 the ridges and hummocks, which being heaped 

 up to a considerable height demanded the ut- 

 most exertion to surmount. On one occasion 

 I slipped, and falling headlong into the snow, 



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