322 DISCOVERIES OF 177^. 



be described, being very high and rugged, pre- 

 senting to the eye mountainous rocks and spires 

 of almost every shape, intermixed with patches 

 of snow, which contrasted finely with the deep 

 blue of the mountains, affording the most pleasing 

 sensations, and at the same time exhibiting either 

 grandeur or horror as the sun shone forth or as it 

 was cloudy."* Among the field-ice were several 

 lofty islands, on one of which was much earthy 

 matter many feet deep, and pieces of rock several 

 hundred pounds weight each, with gravelly 

 streams of fresh water pouring down its sides. 

 The whole mass was drifting to the southward. 

 The sea being perfectly smooth among the ice 

 afforded them a good opportunity of making obser- 

 vations for the variation and inclination of the 

 magnetic needle, the former of which was found 

 to be 41° 31' W., and the latter 76° 30'; the lati- 

 tude at the same time being 60"^ l' N., and longitude, 

 by observation of the sun and moon, 46° 3& W. : 

 and from these observations and his distance from 

 Cape Farewell, he makes that promontory to lie in 

 latitude 59° 32' N. longitude 44° 10' West of 

 Greenwich. 



Mr. Pickersgill, in proceeding to the northward, 

 appears to have kept as close to the shore as the 

 ice and the rocks would permit; and on the 13th 

 was " regaled," as he expresses himself, " with the 

 astonishing sight of the famous Greenland ice- 



•* Lieutenant Pickersgiirs M.S. Journal. 



