86 Fremiwvilles Voyage to the North Pole. 



We owe also a just tribute of eulogium to the engravings of 

 the views of the coasts annexed to the relation of the voyage 

 of La Flore, and designed by Ozanne, employed on board our 

 frigate ; nothing can be more correct, even to the very 

 smallest details. As to the views of the same portions of coast, 

 engraved in the relation of Kerguelen, they are rather to be 

 censured than commended. 



After exploring the whole southern coast of Iceland, we 

 passed between Cape Reikia-ness and the Rocks of the Birds, 

 in Icelandish, Ryke-yse. It was here that a very singular sub- 

 marine phenomenon occurred, in 1783 ; the sea appeared 

 covered with a light-bluish flame, through an extent of more 

 than a mile ; it lasted several hours, and occasioned a very 

 great consternation among the inhabitants of the neighbouring 

 coast. When the flame ceased, a small island appeared on 

 the scite, the surface of which was covered with pumice-stones 

 and volcanic ashes. This islet has since disappeared, proba- 

 bly by another convulsion of the same kind. 



In proceeding northwards, we crossed the great gulph of 

 Faxa Fiordur,* having a view of Mount Jengel, or the Jokul 

 of the west ; its top covered with snow, though at more than 

 twenty leagues distance. This is taken to be the highest 

 mountain in Iceland. 



It was in the gulph of Faxa Fiordur that we saw the sea 

 covered with a sort of mollusca, or rather of radiaire, that 

 seemed to constitute a new genus affiliated with the medusas 

 and the heroes. I gave it the name of i'dya ; a description, 

 with a plate of it, was published in the Bulletin of Sciences, 

 under trie name ofidya Islandica. 



After doubling the Cape and Mount Jengel, we crossed 

 the gulph of Breyde Fiordur; and, on the 13th of July, we 

 entered the Bay of Patrix Fiord, where we anchored in eleven 

 fathoms water, near the Danish factory. 



The Bay of Patrix Fiord lies in 65 deg. 35 min. 45 sec. 

 N. lat. and 26 deg. 29 min. 53 sec. W. long. ; like all the 

 other bays of the island, it is very deep, and encompassed 

 with lofty, abrupt mountains. The entrance to it is very easy, 

 and there is no danger to be apprehended. 



The Danish factory stands on a low point, consisting of an- 

 cient lavas; the anchorage is within the point. The Danish 

 establishment is divided into three wo den houses, one of 

 which serves as a dwelling for the director, and the others are 

 warehouses. Round about lie scattered the wretched huts of 



* In Icelandish, the word fiord, or fiordur, signifies a gulph, or bay ; 

 y orjockel, is appropriated to the high mountains. 



