404< ACCOUNT QF THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 



horizon. The situation in which this circumstance 

 occurs, would appear to be the point where conflict- 

 ing winds contend for the superiority ; and as in 

 some instances their forces are effectually balanced, 

 the winds which simultaneously blow from the south- 

 ward and northward, or from the eastward and 

 westward, have their energies almost destroyed at 

 the place of combination. Thus, it sometimes hap- 

 pens, that ships within sight of each other, will, at 

 the same period of time, experience every variety 

 of weather, from calm to storm, from fair weather 

 to thickest snow, together with several distinct and 

 contrary currents of wind. An instance or two may 

 not be uninteresting. 



On the morning of the 30th of April 1810, the 

 ship Resolution, in which I served in the capacity 

 of chief mate and harpooner, was, during thick 

 showers of snow, sailing by the edge of a stream of 

 ice, with the wind from the north-westward. About 

 10 A. M. the snow abated, and several ships were 

 seen within the distance of three or four miles. As 

 all of these ships were sailing " on a wind," it was 

 easy to ascertain the direction of the wind where 

 they were, and curious to observe its variableness. 

 Two ships bearing north-east from us, had the wind 

 at N. E. ; two bearing east, at E. or E. N. E. ; two 

 bearing S. E., had the wind at S. E. ; while with 

 us, it blew fi-om the N. W. In each of these situa- 

 tions a fresh breeze prevailed; but in some situations. 



