A SMALL ICE-BERG SEEN. 103 



on the one side by valleys, and on the other 

 cut off in part by the mural precipices of 

 the island already mentioned, which here rose 

 into seven consecutive ranges, producing a sin- 

 gular and striking effect. Another island be- 

 tween this and the main, consisting of a single 

 rock, the southern face of which was broken 

 into columnar cliffs with large rhomboidal frac- 

 tures, seemed to be basaltic. 



The wind had fallen ; but a heavy swell was 

 running from the clear horizon before us, and 

 dashed against the rocks with a violence suffi- 

 cient to swamp a fleet of canoes. The smaller 

 of the two canoes took in much water at every 

 pitch ; and as she leaked besides, the Indians 

 prudently made for a small bay, where they 

 landed, with no other damage than that of 

 getting wet. They immediately called out to 

 me not to persevere, as the shore was inapproach- 

 able for many miles, and added, that several of 

 their friends had perished in the same place, 

 from disregarding this counsel. And, indeed, 

 we found as we proceeded a high surf lashing 

 the beach ; and had a gale come on, which, how- 

 ever was not indicated by the clouds, we might 

 have had reason to repent our obstinacy. A 

 large piece of ice was seen floating in the dis- 

 tance, in the pride of a miniature berg ; a sight 

 which so surprised the Canadian, who had been 



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