370 THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE CHAP. 
surface was unruffled by a breeze, formed an 
immense expanse on the west; the glaciers, 
rearing their proud crests almost to the tops 
of mountains between which they were lodged, 
and defying the power of the solar beams, | 
were scattered in various directions about the 
sea-coast and in the adjoining bays. Beds of 
snow and ice fillg extensive hollows, and 
giving an enamelled coat to adjoining valleys, 
one of which, commencing at the foot of the 
mountain where we stood, extended in a con- 
tinual line towards the north, as far as the eye 
could reach — mountain rising above moun- 
tain, until by distance they dwindled into 
insignificance, the whole contrasted by a cloud- 
less canopy of deepest azure, and enlightened 
by the rays of a blazing sun, and the effect, 
aided by a feeling of danger, seated as we 
were on the pinnacle of a rock almost sur- 
“rounded by tremendous precipices —all united 
to constitute a picture singularly sublime.” 
One of the glaciers of Spitzbergen is 11 
miles in breadth when it reaches the sea- 
coast, the highest part of the precipitous front 
adjoining the sea being over 400 feet, and it 
