210 LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC. 



a telescope from the masthead exhibited some extra- 

 ordinary appearances, which differed at almost every 

 point of the compass. One ship had a perfect image, as 

 dark and distinct as the original, united to its masthead 

 in a reverse position. Two others presented two distinct 

 inverted images in the air, one of them a perfect figure of 

 the original, and the other wanting the hull. Two or 

 three more were strangely distorted, their masts appearing 

 of at least twice their proper height, the top-gallant mast 

 forming one-half of the total elevation, and other vessels 

 exhibited an appearance totally different from all the pre- 

 ceding, being as it were compressed in place of elongated. 

 Their masts seemed to be scarcely one-half of their 

 proper altitude, in consequence of which one would have 

 supposed that they were greatly heeled to one side, or in 

 the position called careening. Along with all the images 

 of the ships a reflection of the ice, sometimes in two 

 strata, also appeared in the air, and these reflections 

 suggested the idea of cliffs composed of vertical columns 

 of alabaster. 



On the 15th, 16th, and 17th of the same month, 

 Mr. Scoresby observed similar phenomena, sometimes 

 extending continuously through half the circumference of 

 the horizon, and at other times appearing only in 

 detached spots in various quarters. The inverted images 

 of distant vessels were often seen in the air, while the ships 

 themselves were far beyond the reach of vision. Some 

 ships were elevated to twice their proper height, while 

 others were compressed almost to a line. Hummocks of 

 ice were surprisingly enlarged, and every prominent 

 object in a proper position was either magnified or 

 distorted. 



But of all the phenomena witnessed by Mr. Scoresby, 

 that of the Enchanted Coast, as it may be called, must 

 have been the most remarkable. This singular effect was 



