168 Dr Martens on the Glaciers of Spitzbergen. 



face of a glacier is most frequently flat, or slightly con- 

 cave.* The glaciers of Bell-Sound were obviously flat ; 

 those of Magclalena Bay presented three types. The glacier 

 of Pointe aux Tombeaux was a little concave, that at the bot- 

 tom of the bay evidently flat, particularly in its upper part. 

 Finally, there were two small ones, which did not reach the 

 edge of the sea, because the coast was steep, and the masses 

 of ice fell and were broken, like those of the glacier of 

 Getroz, in the Valais, in proportion as they advanced and 

 sloped down upon this vertical wall. One of these glaciers 

 overlooked our vessel, and I was therefore able to examine it 

 at leisure. It was only 240 metres broad, inclosed between 

 two rocks of a dark colour, and had melted at the sides, which 

 rendered it very convex. It was composed of layers placed 

 one above another, which appeared to consist of indurated 

 snow rather than true ice. Perhaps it is to the very form in 

 question that we ought to attribute the imperfect conversion 

 of the snow into ice. Rain water, and that proceeding from 

 melted snow, running over this bulging surface as from a roof, 

 could never penetrate this compact mass of snow, condensed 

 by its own weight. When the declivities on which northern 

 glaciers repose are very unequal, they mould themselves upon 

 these inequalities like the glaciers of the Alps, as Scoresby 

 has shewn to take place on the glaciers of the island Jan 

 Mayen, which he represents as resembling an immense frozen 

 cataract, the illusion being rendered complete by pointed 

 rocks projecting in numerous places, t 



The glaciers of Spitzbergen perhaps melt a little on the 

 surface when the weather is mild and the air moist ; but, not- 

 withstanding this, it is to the melting of the snow accumu- 

 lated on them that we must ascribe the origin of the streams 

 of water to which they sometimes give rise. It is not a rare 

 thing to see small cascades issuing from their upperwparts. At 

 Magdalena Bay one was observed, which flowed for several 

 days from the sides of the glacier Pointe aux Tombeaux. That 

 of Bell Sound was furrowed by small streams of water. 



* Scoresby, 1. c. t» 1., p. 103. Keilliau, 1. c. p. 135. 

 t Bdin. Pidl. Journal, vol. i, p. 121. 1819. 



