1787. LOWEXORN, EGEDE, AND ROTIIE. 337 



of ice which come clown along that coast every year, 

 by the formation of the globe. By the motion, he 

 says, of the earth round its axis from west to east, 

 supposing that the surface of the globe was nothing 

 but water, the current of the sea must constantly 

 be from east to west, and by reason of the centric 

 fugal force, the waters must at the same time ruit 

 towards the equator ; but the various groups of con- 

 tinents and islands have modified these motions. 

 The masses of ice round the north pole, and in the 

 sea to the north of Asia, and around Spitzbergen, 

 ought tberefore by this rotation to take a direction 

 from east to west, and also towards the Equator; 

 and would consequently pass along the eastern 

 coast of Greenland. Such is Admiral Lowenorn's 

 theory; and such was that of Fabricius many years 

 before Mr. Lowenorn's voyage. Sometimes, he tells 

 us, these masses of ice break in the spring, on ac- 

 count of storms, winds, &c. and drift to the south- 

 ward some months earlier, leaving the northern 

 coast of Iceland open; but at other times the ice 

 does not move, but renders that coast quite inac- 

 cessible. In order, then, to penetrate to the eastern 

 coast of Greenland, a year, he thinks, ought to be 

 chosen when the ice floats down in the early part 

 of the season, intelligence of which can only be 

 obtained in Iceland. The navigator should ap- 

 proach the coast in about the 66th parallel of lati- 

 tude ; and, by following the course of the floating 

 ice, proceed as far as Cape Farewell. In the years 

 17.51-53, an endeavour had been made with great 



VOL. I. z 



