330 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 



bergen, we had a temperature of 19o to 24°, while 

 ships at the distance of only 14 or 15 leagues to 

 the north-west of us, had a uniform cold of 8 de- 

 grees. ' 



The Greenland sailors being well defended from 

 external cold, by a choice selection of warm clothing, 

 generally support the lowest temperature, after a 

 few days habitude, without much inconvenience. 

 When, however, its attacks are not gradual, as 

 when a ship, which has attained the edge of the 

 ice under a southerly gale, is suddenly exposed to a 

 northerly breeze, the change of temperature is so 

 great and so rapid, that the most hardy cannot con- 

 ceal their uneasiness under its first impressions. In 

 one of the instances above quoted, in the year 1814, 

 when a temperature of zero occurred, we reached 

 the latitude of 70o, without experiencing any cold 

 below 30°; but in less than twenty -four hours, the 

 thermometer fell 25", and indicated a temperature of 

 5°. Thus, between the time of myleaving the deck at 

 night, and arising the following morning, there was 

 an increase in the cold of about 20°. This remarkable 

 change was attended with singular effects. The 

 circulation of the blood was accelerated, — a sense of 

 parched dryness was excited in the nose, — the 

 mouth, or rather lips, were contracted in all their 

 dimensions, as by a sphincter, and the articulation 

 of many words was rendered difficult and imperfect ; 

 indeed, every part of the body was more or less sti- 



