SPITZBERGEN AM) GREENLAND. 39 



sky, that then there commonly follows a storm. Whether 

 the moon doth prognosticate such storms, I cannot tell, 

 because we have observed, that after we have seen the moon, 

 in a clear sky, the air has grown foggy, which happeneth 

 often, chiefly if the wind changes. When the hills show 

 fiery, it is from fogs, which after spread themselves every- 

 where, and the cold increaseth : these foggs looks blew, like 

 Indico, and black afar off, which upon changing of the 

 weather are driven along by the wind, so that in less than 

 half an hour, the sea is so covered with thick fogg, that you 

 can hardly see from one end of the ship to the other. 



On the 14th of Maij the air was bright and clear, and yet 

 very cold ; we could see the whales farther oif in the sea, 

 than usually at this time. We could not distinguish the air 

 from the sea, for it shewed as if the ships danced in the air 

 like naked trees or poles. 



After the same manner Spitzbergen looks at a distance like 

 a cloud ; the movintains are so reflected by the sea, that he 

 that knows not the country very well, cannot easily discern 

 it from air, and so other countries very often appear. 



The other three months, June, July, and August were 

 very calm. 



Concerning the cold, it is much according to the quality 

 of the winds ; so north and east winds cause very intense 

 frosts, so that one can hardly keep alive, especially if the 

 wind blows hard. 



West and south winds, when somewhat constant, cause 

 much snow, sometimes rain also, and moderate cold. 



The other winds of the thirty-two according to the com- 

 pass, whatever names they have, are changed by the clouds, 

 so that sometimes when the wind was south-west and by 

 south in one place, at a few miles distance there blows quite 

 another wind. 



What heat the sun oftentimes affords we saw by our eyes 

 watering, and the tears that ran continually down our cheeks. 



