176 ON THE EFFECTING OF 



boldness of the whale hunters, arising from the confidence 

 of experience in this dangerous navigation, has carried 

 them, every succeeding season, into new courses. 



The fleet of whalers, above twenty in number, all tacking 



latitude 73° 15' N., near Berry's Island: an appearance of cirrostratus 

 cloud occurred, which is worthy of notice fi-om its consequences — 

 aggregated small clouds of irregular shapes, purplish brown, smooth, 

 and edged with a soft yellowish illumination : distinct from each 

 other, they appeared heavy and motionless : such clouds, I have since 

 frequently noticed, usually appear before a gale : an immense number 

 of whales made appearance amongst the surrounding packs of ice, and 

 their blowing among the numerous bergs would have raised a notion 

 that in this wilderness of most wintry aspect, the smoke of many a 

 hearth was sent up from some very jiopulous hamlet. The wind 

 increased with heavy sliowers of snow and sleet, and became a strong 

 gale as the ship came in sight of the Frow Islands : the swell of the 

 sea, occasioned by the wind, grew to an unusual height : the ship con- 

 tinued steering under reefed topsails for Hickson's Bay, as well for 

 shelter, as for the purposes of the voyage : the water a very deep 

 browm colour ; and, as it breaks upon the bergs, exhibits a reddish 

 brown hue. The Frow Islands have been so named from the voyage 

 of Davis, who is said to have first discovered those lands, and met 

 with many Greenland women there in boats ; frow and woman being 

 the English and Dutch terms which respectively designate the sex. 

 The greater number of those islands are low and flat ; but many much 

 larger are often invested with clouds (cirrostratus) ; at which time, 



