386 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC llEGIOXS, 



digious and perfect arch, thrown across a valley of 

 above a league in breadth. The neighbouring 

 mountains disclosed the cause, by exhibiting an un- 

 natural elevation, with the columnar structure of 

 looming objects. Presently, the scene was changed; 

 the mountains along the whole coast, assumed the 

 most fantastic forms ; the appearance of castles 

 with lofty spires, towers and battlements, would, in 

 a few minutes, be converted into a vast arch or ro- 

 mantic bridge. These varied and sometimes beau- 

 tiful metamorphoses, naturally suggested the reality 

 of fairy descriptions ; for the air was perfectly trans- 

 parent, the contrast of snow and rocks was quite dis- 

 tinct, even in the substance of the most uncommon 

 phantasms, though examined with a powerful tele- 

 scope, and every object seemed to possess every pos- 

 sible stability. I never before observed a phenome- 

 non so varied or so amusing. The land was not 

 alone affected by this peculiar refraction, since every 

 object between the N. E. and S. E. points of the 

 compass, was more or less deformed by it. A mass 

 of ice on the horizon, appeared of the height of a 

 cliff, and the prismatic structure of its front, suggest- 

 ed the idea of basaltic columns. It may be remark- 

 ed, that these phenomena took place on a clear 

 evening, after an uncommonly warm afternoon. 



Another similar appearance of the coast of Spitz- 

 bergen, though not quite so interesting, occurred on 



