4S4i ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 



Frost-rime or frost-smoke, is a meteor peculiar 

 to those parts of the globe, where a very low tem- 

 perature prevails for a considerable time. It con- 

 sists of a dense frozen vapour, apparently arising 

 out of the sea or any large sheet of water, and as- 

 cending, in high winds and turbulent seas, to the 

 height of 80 or 100 feet ; but in light breezes and 

 smooth water, creeping along the surface. The 

 particles of which it consists are as small as dust, 

 and cleave to the rigging of ships, or almost any sub- 

 stance against which they are driven by the wind, 

 and afford a coating of an inch or upwards in deptli. 

 These particles adhere to one another, until the 

 windward surface of the ropes is covered ; and form 

 long fibres, somewhat of a prismatical or pyramidal 

 shape, having their points directed towards the wind. 

 Frost-rime adheres readily to articles of clothing ; 

 and from the circumstance of its lodging in the hair, 

 and giving it the appearance of being powdered, the 

 sailors humorously style it " the barber." Such of 

 the frost-rime as is dislodged from the rigging 

 whenever the ship is tacked, covers the deck to a 

 considerable thickness ; and when trod upon, emits 

 an acute sound, resembling the crushing of fine par- 

 ticles of glass. When collected in heaps, it has the 

 appearance of snow dust, and if dissolved, affords 

 pure water. 



Frost-rime sometimes appears at a temperature 

 of 20* or 22* ; but generally, it is not observed until 



