14 VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 



We afterwards weighed anchor, and sailed out of 

 the north entrance for Balti Sound, Island of 

 Unst. 



Balti Sound is in the middle of the east side of 

 the island, into which it stretches nearly two miles. 

 Before the entrance, is a large narrow island, called 

 Balti, whence the Sound derives its name, and 

 which shelters it from all winds, forming an excel- 

 lent safe harbour or anchoring place. If a ship be 

 leaky, there are several very commodious beaches 

 on which she may be laid until thoroughly repair- 

 ed. This harbour used to be the most frequented 

 of any in Shetland, especially by ships going to 

 Archangel and Greenland. 



Unst, the remotest of the Shetland Isles, and 

 most northern part of his Britannic Majesty's do- 

 minions, is supposed to be about eight miles long 

 and four broad. 



A hill called Vallafield rises within a mile and 

 a half of its northern extremity, and runs- directly 

 parallel to the western coast, to the very northern 

 point. It is six hundred feet high. At right an- 

 gles with this hill, stands Crossfield, nearly in the 

 middle of the island. To the north lies Saxaforth, 

 which is seven hundred feet high. It is the high- 

 est in the island, and may be seen upwards of forty 

 miles off the coast. A lull, called Vordhill, runs 

 parallel to the east coast. 



