210 ON THE EFFECTING OF 



and other vessels, four in number, coming on the same 

 course in succession, were, by the cries of the men from 

 the other ships, successively warned of the situation. Many 

 heavy flaws lay around, oftering such openings to the east- 

 ward as were at first thought to lead to open water ; but 

 hope to that eftect was found deceptive, and the ships were 

 compelled to warp back again to the westward, to get clear 

 of the flaws. 



The sea in this latitude, which is that of Devil's Thumb, 

 must be shallow, as an innumerable hoard of bergs is here- 

 abouts remarkable, though the current to the southward is 

 still strong enough to set them in that direction. From the 

 summits of those bergs an accumulation of vapour, exuded 

 under the influence of the sun, assumes a form similar to 

 a cumulous cloud, or, as some readers may more familiarly 

 represent it to their recollection — such an appearance as, 

 on a greater scale, caps the mountains' summit in temperate 

 climes, before or after rainy weather. The various fantastic 

 forms of those bergs adds to this imaginary representation ; 

 many not a hundred feet in elevation, seeming to be 

 mountains in miniature surrounded Avith appropriate exha- 

 lations ; and others, from their sharp squared summits, 

 would afford a picture, not absurdly alike, of palaces Avhose 

 many summits, by the streaming smoke, gave indication of 

 the luxury Avithin. 



