18 VOYAGE TO SPTTZBERGEN. 



they differ in colours. They often assume the co- 

 lour of blood, and make a most dreadful appearance. 

 The rustic sages represent these phenomena as 

 prognosticative of future events, and thereby af- 

 fright the gaping multitude with dread of war, fa- 

 mine, and pestilential devastations. Vid. Pen. 

 Arct. Zool. vol. i. p. 27. 



The ebb tides here run north, and the flood tides 

 to the southward, unless on the north and south 

 extremities of the country, where they run east and 

 west ; but their rapidity is inconsiderable when 

 compared to that of the firths of Orkney. 



The shores are generally lofty, and rise almost 

 perpendicular from the ocean. 



I went out with the captain in one of the ship's 

 boats, and sailed round some of the headlands of 

 Unst. The scene was truly sublime : — fogs im- 

 mured their summits ; the noise, of the sea dashing 

 against the rocks;* and the screams of the eagles 

 and other birds of prey, which there enjoy perfect 

 security; combined with the sombre and terrific ap- 

 pearance exhibited by these bulwarks of nature, im- 

 pressed us with awe and a pleasing kind of asto- 

 nishment. The prospect to me was quite novel. 

 I had formerly been familiar only with champaign 



" Planctus illisce cautibtcs widcc. 



