THE AKCTTC SEAS. 131 



for twelve years had that ill-fated bark navigated, 

 through sun and storm, the Polar Sea ; and, perhaps, 

 unconsciously solving the problem that had so long 

 baffled human skill and daring, had even crossed tlie 

 Pole itself. 



But it is time that we turn from the consideration 

 of inanimate nature and atmospheric phenomena, to 

 inquire what are the living productions that cheer 

 the loneliness of the Arctic mariner. Of the vegeta- 

 tion of these regions we know little ; the dreary 

 level shores of many of the isles are marshy, and 

 densely clothed with various mosses, which, though 

 frozen in winter, revive in the transient summer. The 

 rocks, too, are covered with lichens of various colours ; 

 and a few dwarf flowering plants just rise above the 

 thin soil. Nothing like a tree varies the scene, but 

 large trunks of trees are brought, by the currents, 

 from distant regions, and washed upon the sea-beach. 

 Some of the Fuel which are common with us are 

 found also on these shores, and doubtless many other 

 species which are unknown to us. 



The most notorious of the inhabitants of these 

 dreary seas are the mighty and gigantic Whales. 

 "There is that le\'iathan, whom thou hast made to 

 play therein." It is in pursuit of these immense 

 creatures, and especially the Greenland species, the 

 "right Whale" of the seamen {Balcena mysticetus), 

 that many ships well-manned and fitted out at great 

 expense, proceed every year from England, Holland, 

 France, and other nations, into the Arctic zone. This 

 valuable animal has produced to Britain 700,000/. in 

 a single year, and one cargo has been known to yield 



K 2 



