224 ACCOUNT OF THE AUCTIC REGIONS. 



The original direction of waves is capable of be- 

 ing altogetlier changed by a particular form of an 

 adjoining sea-coast, body of ice, or channel of the 

 sea. AVhen the Wind blows directly along or pa- 

 rallel to the line formed by the shore, the waves 

 incline towards the land. If a high sea takes its 

 rise where the wind blows along shore, and the coast 

 falls gradually back, so as to bring the direction of 

 the wind off land, the sea will usually continue to 

 roll along sliorc, following the form of the land, 

 and changing its direction with every alteration in 

 the line of the coast. In this way, where no large 

 points interrupt its progress, the sea makes its way 

 along an irregular coast of ice, until in some cases 

 it is actually so inflected, as to proceed, obliquely, 

 against the wind. 



