46 VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 



The currents near the island are remarkably 

 rapid, which renders it impracticable to cast an- 

 chor within two miles of it, where soundings can 

 be had in twenty or thirty fathoms. Vid. Forster, 

 p. 329. 



In 1604, this island was visited by a ship com- 

 manded by Stephen Bennet, who, in this and 

 many succeeding voyages, killed prodigious num- 

 bers of sea-horses, or walruses. He discovered 

 also abundance of lead ore under a mountain, (by 

 him named Mount Misery, from its truly wretch- 

 ed and forlorn appearance,) of which he brought 

 upwards of thirty tons home to England. Here 

 are also found coals of an excellent quality, and 

 very fine virgin silver of different forms. Vid. 

 Forster, p. 332. 



Near to Cherry Island is a small spot called 

 Gull Island, on which were likewise found seve- 

 ral veins of lead ore and coals. 



25th, Clear weather and hard frost. 



26th, Clear weather, and a considerable quan- 

 tity of ice. 



27th, Some snow ; ice increasing. 



28th, At ten A. M. the ship was made fast to 

 a large iceberg, the lowest part of which was 

 about ten, and the highest forty feet from the 



