LATELY PREPARED. 249 



extremity as it presents itself in 74° N . is inhabited, but 

 whether throughout the winter is rather a doubtful circum- 

 stance. The natives of that country are guided by a simple 

 but prudent policy, which affords little information to 

 strangers, regarding their economy, but what can be gleaned 

 by observation. In summer they have been seen so high as 

 that latitude ; but from the view I have had of the Linneean 

 Isles, even in the late universally open season, I am in- 

 clined to think that they do not dwell so far to the north- 

 ward as those islands are situate. I rather think they 

 remove to the southward in winter. 



The extreme dangers to be encountered in those high 

 latitudes, when once the indications of winter's setting in 

 appear, are incalculable. Though the field ice be at that 

 period broken up, accumulated in packs, dispersed, or 

 even dissolved, still by those several changes the cold, 

 increasing in proportion as the sun moves (apparently) to 

 the southward, condenses the vapour with which the at- 

 mosphere is loaded, and foggy weather succeeds, often 

 rather suddenly, and in such density and extent, as to 

 make the situation of a ship doubtful to the mariner, and 

 if in the neighbourhood of bergs the vessel is in danger of 

 momentary destruction. 



This part of the subject, I am aware, is prematurely in- 

 troduced, but in the reader's indulgence I request it may 

 be allowed to remain, and that the observation be kept 



^ K 



