VOYAGK INTO 



CHAPTER III. 



Of the Ice. 



In the months of April and Maij, the west ice breaks, be- 

 cause it lyeth westward, which drives dispersed in the sea, 

 by the Island of John Mayen, and reacheth to Spitzhergen, 

 where at that time it was firm still. 



The difference between the ice of Spitzbergen and that of 

 our country is, that it is not smooth there, so as to slide 

 upon it. 



Neither is it so clear nor transparent, nor so sharp and 

 cutting, but a great deal harder, and is not easily broke or 

 split ; but it looketh likest unto the ground-ice of the rivers 

 in our country, or like unto loaf-sugar. 



Where the ice is fixed upon the sea, you see a snow-white 

 brightness in the skies, as if the sun shined ;' for the snow is 

 reflected by the air, just as a fire by night is ; but at a dis- 

 tance you see the air blew or blackish : where there is many 

 small ice-fields, that are as meadows for the scales, you see 

 no lustre or brightness of the skies. 



The sea dasheth against these ice-fields, which occasioneth 

 several fine figures ; not that they are naturally framed so, 

 but just as ice-flowers on our glass-windows get all sorts of 

 figures : for these are framed by the dashing of the sea, like 

 unto mountains, steeples, chappels, tables, and all sorts of 

 beasts. 



These ice-fields are a great deal deeper under water than 

 they are high above it, and are of a paler colour under water 

 than above ; the top of them might be called the kernel and 

 marrow of the ice, because the colour is much deeper than 

 that of the other. 



' This is called "Ice-bliiik" by wlialcrs and Arctic voyagers. 



