- spitzbergen: — mountains. 97 



On Charles' . Island is a curious peak, whicli juts 

 into the sea. It is crooked, perfectly naked, be- 

 ing equally destitute of snow and verdure, and, 

 from its black appearance or pointed figure, has 

 been denominated the Devil's Thumb. Its height 

 may be about 1500 or 2000 feet. The Mich 

 die-Hook of the Foreland, as the central part 

 of the chain of mountains in Charles' Island 

 is called, is a very interesting part of the coast. 

 These mountains, which are, perhaps, the highest 

 land adjoining the sea which is to be met with, 

 take their rise at the water's edge, and by a con- 

 tinued ascent of an angle at first of about 30", 

 and increasing to 45° or more, each comes to a point, 

 with the elevation of about six-sevenths of an Eng- 

 lish mile. This portion of the chain exhibits five 

 distinct summits, the elevation of the highest of 

 which, as determined by Captain Phipps, is 4500 

 feet, and of the lowest, by estimation, above 4000 

 feet. Some of these summits are, to appearance, 

 within half a league, horizontal distance, of the 

 margin of the sea. The points formed by the top 

 of two or three of them, are so fine, that the ima- 

 gination is at a loss tcx conceive of a place, on which 

 an adventurer, attempting the hazardous exploit of 

 climbing one of the summits, might rest *. Were 

 such an undertaking practicable, it is evident it 

 could not be effected without imminent danger. 



vol.. I. G 



* See Plate 3. fiff. ?,. 



