SPITZBERGEN AM) GKKF.MANn. 31 



sea- water so clear, that at twelve and more fathoms deep you 

 may see the bottom. There is no ground to be found near 

 the ice to drop an anchor. 



It is also to be observed, that according to the colour of 

 the skies the colour of the sea is changed. If the skies be 

 clear, the sea looks as blew as saphire : if it is covered some- 

 what with clouds, the sea is as green as an emerald ; if there 

 be a foggy sunshine, it looketh yellow ; if it be quite dark, 

 like unto the colour of Indico ; in stormy and cloudy wea- 

 ther, like black sope, or exactly like unto the colour of black- 

 lead. 



If the wind be quite calm, one may hear beating or knock- 

 ing at a great distance on the sea, by which we also observe 

 the ichale hears, as shall be mentioned in its proper place. 



Among the ice the stream runs southwards, which we 

 observed by our driving back a great way. At the Muscle 

 Haven the stream ran northwards. Those that sail yearly to 

 those places cannot give any certain information concerning 

 ebbing and flowing ; only they have observed the water to 

 be higher about the land, when the winds have been higher, 

 than at other times. And this I have also observed, that if 

 there was an orderly or continual ebbing and flowing, the 

 eggs of the birds would be drowned upon the islands. 



Certain information concerning ebbing and flowing is not 

 easily to be had ; I know no more of it then what I have 

 "wi'itten. 



