414 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 



witliout threatening destruction to man, and the pro- 

 duct of his industry, as in what are commonly call- 

 ed happier climates*." 



The reciprocal eiFects of the ice, sea, land, and 

 wind, on each other, have, in different places of this 

 work, been alluded to. One fact which applies in 

 this place, yet remains to be noticed. 



A striking and very singular effect of the land on 

 the wind, is frequently observed in Davis' Strait. 

 The island of Disco, lying in latitude 69° 40' and 

 longitude 54° 30' W., presents towards the sea, on 

 the west side, a considerable cliff, with mountainous 

 land beyond it. In the season corresponding with 

 our summer, the sea near it is commonly open. At 

 this time, when ships lying in the middle of Davis' 

 Strait, have a hard gale of wind blowing from the 

 west, on steering towards this island, which is then 

 a lee shore, tliey gradually find the force of the wind 

 abate, until when come within a certain distance of 

 the land, it subsides almost into a calm ! As this cir- 

 cumstance is said invariably to occur, ships naviga- 

 ting in Davis' Strait, when oppressed by the violence 

 of the westerly winds, are generally enabled to at- 

 tain a situation in which the wind blows witli such 

 a diminished degree of force, as may best suit their 

 convenience. Whether this effect is produced by 

 the height of the land, or is the effect of the repul- 



* Edin. Phil. Trans., vol. ii. 



