JAN MAYEN ISLAND. l6a 



iieat a stupendous accumulation of lava, bearing the 

 castellated form, was another crater, of similar form 

 to the one above described. Towards the south- 

 west, the utmost extent of the island was visible; 

 while, towards the north, a thick fog obscured the 

 prospect, which, as it advanced in stately grandeur 

 towards us, gradually shrouded the distant scenery, 

 until the nearest mountains were wrapped in im- 

 penetrable gloom. The sea, at the same time was 

 calm, the sun bright, and the atmosphere of half 

 the hemisphere, without a cloud. Excepting the 

 interest excited by the volcano, Beerenberg sunk 

 every other object into comparative insignificance. 

 A sketch of the appearance of this mountain from 

 the sea, at ten miles distant, when seen above the 

 clouds, is given among the engravings, and may af- 

 ford some notion of its magnitude and beauty *. 



The colour of the clitFs around, was different 

 shades of brown or black ; and the general character 

 of the country seemed to indicate the action of vol- 

 canic fire. 



A rocky hill, with a precipitous side towards the 

 sea, lying a little to the westward, I descended to- 

 wards it, from the ridge of the crater, with the ex- 

 pectation of finding some other kind of rock than 

 what had yet been met with. It was found to con- 

 sist only of a cliff of yellowish grey friable earth or 



* Plate 5. 



L 2 



