CURIOU£ DECEPTION. 51 



large masses of ice. At this distance the wall 

 of ice has an awfully-grand appearance, height- 

 ened perhaps by a sense of the personal danger 

 to which so near an approach must expose the 

 spectator ; for large pieces have occasionally 

 broken away from this berg, which have done 

 considerable mischief. The soft blue tint of the 

 surface of the ice is here also clearly discerned, 

 whilst the long, sparkling icicles pendant from 

 the roofs of the caverns, and a variety of curious 

 shapes, which may also be traced on the face 

 of the glacier, serve greatly to increase the in- 

 terest and admiration. 



On a perfectly calm day, when the blink of 

 the ice is strong, a curious deception is produced 

 by the combined effect of the ice below the 

 surface of the water, and the perfect reflection 

 of that above. The sea presents a white, creamy 

 appearance ; the seals sporting on its surface 

 seem to be swimming in a thick milky sub- 

 stance ; and the ripple as it sweeps along oc- 

 casions long white lines, so that it is only by 

 looking perpendicularly upon the water around 

 the boat that its transparency is perceived, and 

 the deception is detected. 



In another part of my journal it is shown 

 that the danger of approaching these fragile 

 masses of ice is far from imaginary; and that 



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