324 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 



immediately surrounding the Pole, whilst a shift of 

 wind to the south-west, south, or south-east, elevates 

 the temperature towards that of the neighbouring 

 seas. 



It is not easy to associate with our ideas of sum- 

 mer, the ^dew of eternal ices and snow, and the sen- 

 sation of almost perpetual frost ; yet, as the power 

 of the sun is sometimes such as to produce a com- 

 fortable degree of warmth, — as much ice and snow is 

 dissolved, and especially as on some parts of the 

 shore vegetation appears, advances, and is perfected, 

 — the name of Summer to such a season may, for a 

 limited period, be applicable. 



An Arctic winter consists of the accumulation of 

 almost every thing among atmospheric phenomena, 

 that is disagreeable to the feelings, together with 

 the privation of those bounties of Heaven, with 

 which other parts of the earth, in happier climates, 

 are so plentifully endowed. Here, during the whole 

 of the winter months, the cheering rays of the sun 

 are neither seen nor felt, but considerable darkness 

 perpetually prevails ; this, with occasional storms of 

 wind and snow, and a degree of cold calculated to 

 benumb the faculties of man, give a character to 

 those regions most repugnant to human feeling. 



The most severe cold, says Crantz, that occurs in 

 Greenland, sets in, as in temperate climates, " after 

 the New- Year, and is so piercing in February and 



