THE NOKTH CAPE. 91 



only quadrupeds to be found in the neighbourhood of the 

 North Cape, a brief account of that dreary headland 

 may interest the reader. The North Cape is the high- 

 est promontory on the northern shore of Magero, or 

 the lean island, so called on account of its barrenness. 

 Magero is also the most northern of the Norwegian 

 islands. The North Cape is not, however, the most 

 northern point of Norway and of Europe. That dis- 

 tinction belongs to the Nordkyn, a low promontory, 

 lying some miles further to the east. But as the 

 Nordkyn is low, while the North Cape is 950 feet 

 above the level of the sea ; and as the Nordkyn does 

 not stretch so 1 far north, the North Cape will always 

 be considered the most northern point. 



The North Cape is not a Norwegian appellation, and 

 this designation was not given to it by the Norwe- 

 gians, but most likely by the English sailors, who 

 passed it on their way to Archangel. 



The rock forming the North Cape is perfectly smooth 

 and level on the summit. The character of the scenery 

 around it is by no means enlivening, for it is desolation 

 personified. Huge, towering rocks ; constant tem- 

 pests ; mighty masses of snow and floating ice j swarms 

 of seabirds, which hover round the inhospitable shore, 

 or perch on the rocks with dismal cries ; the land 

 everywhere void of vegetation ; such are the objects 

 of this gloomy spot, which remind the spectator of 

 Cowper's lines : 



" O Solitude ! where are the charms 



That sages have seen in thy face ? 

 Better dwell in the midst of alarms, 

 Than reign in this horrible place !" 



It is an interesting fact, to be attributed to the in- 



