25 



The bodies of Ice In the northern seas, near Hu.LoiV's 

 Bay, are surprising: some of (hem are iaimejsed u 

 Hundred fathoms or more, under the surface of the 

 ocean. They stand a iifth or sixth part above, and are 

 three or four miles in circumference. These floating 

 mountains owe their durable nature to a cause not 

 usually observed : that is, to their not beiiig common 

 ice, but the ice of sea-water. If a phial of sea-water 

 be exposed to the air IP frosty weather, till flakes of 

 ke are formed therein, and then set in a warm room, 

 still the flukes will remain a long time undissolved, ami 

 if they are taken out, and exposed at a small distance 

 to the fire, they will not run into water, as common ice 

 does, but will by degrees evaporate, leaving only a little 

 white salt. It is easy then to conceive, that the immense 

 masses of this ice found in the Northern Seas, will cou 

 timie ur.dissolved throughout the year, and at the re- 

 turn of the freezing- season, grow larger and larger every 

 year, by the freezing of more ice about them, 



On the contrary, there are some waters which will 

 not freeze at all. The Lake Ness, in Scotland, never 

 freezes, be the winter ever so severe. Yea, while every 

 thing round is frozen, its water runs smoaking for six 

 miles down the river into which they are discharged ; 

 and from this smoak there rises a sort of fog, which 

 overspreads the country, for several miles. Near the 

 lake is a mountain, on the summit of which there is 

 another lake, which is always full, summer and wiutef* 

 Due west from the river there is another lake, two 

 miles long and six broad. r Phe middle of this is some- 

 times dry, and then plainly appears to have been 

 once an inhabited country. There are many tumuli 

 to be seen under water, one of which is accessible 

 at low water. Au ! in this urns iiave been found,, 

 which leave 110 room to doubt of their having been 

 burial places. 



There ace likewise in Scotland other lakes, which 

 freeze only at peculiar seasons. A little lake in Strath*- 



