206 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 



about the longitude of 56° W ; the former in the 

 year 1814, and the latter in 1817- The staves of 

 blubber casks being generally soaked with oil, 

 shakes formed of them float almost entirely un- 

 der water, and are, therefore, defended from the 

 influence of the wind ; and these shakes being 

 of a cylindrical form, are rolled over on their axes 

 by the force of the waves, instead of being pro- 

 pelled through the water. Hence, on any reason- 

 able calculation, founded on the influence of pre- 

 vailing winds, such bodies could not be expected 

 to accomplish a passage across the Atlantic, unless 

 by the operation of a current, under the period of 

 many years. But the casks above mentioned, were 

 picked up off the Butt of the Lewis, within twelve 

 months of the vessels to which they had belonged 

 being wrecked ; and a shake that had belonged to 

 the London, was found by the crew of the Royal 

 George, drifting through the Orkneys, about eleven 

 months after the accident. The latter had, there- 

 fore, performed a passage of about 1600 nautical 

 miles within the year ; that is, at the average rate 

 of five miles pe?^ day. It might be reasonably ask- 

 ed, How is it, when such a current always prevails, 

 that no iceberg was ever conveyed across the Atlan- 

 tic to the British shore ? This does not appear to 

 arise from the icebergs being dissolved in their pro- 

 gress ; because they perform a passage equally long 

 in other directions, having been known to drift to 

 the southward as far as the 40th degree of latitude, 



