CHAP. II.] THE CRUISE OF THE ‘ LIGHTNING,’ 61 
which almost constantly envelopes them. Towards 
mid-day the weather improved a little, and as we 
threaded among the islands towards the little harbour 
of Thorshayn we greatly enjoyed our first view of 
their fantastic outlines, partly shrouded in their veil 
of mist; their soft green and brown colouring ren- 
dered still softer by the subdued sub-arctic light, and 
the streams and cascades embroidering the gentle 
slopes of the hills and falling over the cliffs like 
silver threads and tassels. 
The Feéroe Islands are basaltic; terrace over 
terrace of soft easily decomposed anamesite probably 
of Miocene tertiary age. This uniform structure, 
and the absence of trees or any prominent form of 
vegetation, gives a singular sameness of effect. The 
scattered habitations are usually sad-coloured and 
roofed with growing turf, so that they are actually 
invisible at a little distance. We were greatly struck 
sometimes by the difficulty of estimating distance 
and height; from the total want of familiar objects 
for comparison it was sometimes difficult to tell, 
passing among the islands and looking at them 
through the moist transparent air, whether the 
ridge was 500 feet high, or double or four times that 
height. The intermediate height is usually nearest 
the truth. 
Thorshavn, the capital of Fééroe, is a strange little 
place. The land shelves down rather abruptly to a 
little bay, round the head of which the town is built ; 
and the habitations are perched among the rocks on 
such flat spaces as may be found for their reception. 
The result is irregular and picturesque; and very 
peculiar, for something like a scramble is necessary 
