88 Disco. 



precipitous, are composed of metarnorphic rock, 

 and rise in some places to an altitude of over three 

 thousand feet above the level of the sea. The 

 scenery is grand and majestic, and the effect is 

 enhanced by the strong contrast afforded between 

 the black rocks and their snowy mantle. In con- 

 sequence of the great height of the land, rising ab- 

 ruptly, as it were, out of the sea, its distance is 

 most deceiving when approaching from seaward. 

 This deceptive appearance in these regions is fre- 

 quently noticed by navigators, and fully accounts 

 for the report brought to Norway by an old Nor- 

 wegian skipper, or " famous sea-cock," as he is 

 styled by the old chroniclers three hundred years 

 ago, who, after undergoing many perils and hard- 

 ships on his passage across to the east coast of 

 Greenland, after sighting the land, seemed unable 

 to approach, though the ship was steering directly 

 towards it, and making fair progress through the 

 water. At last, relinquishing all further attempts 

 as useless, this " famous sea-cock " bore up and 

 returned to Norway, reporting that his ship, after 

 sighting the land, had been unable to advance in 

 consequence of some hidden loadstone, which effec- 

 tually barred his onward course. 



Tuesday, June 3rd. — It was the captain's inten- 

 tion to have sailed this morning, but it had to be 

 relinquished in consequence of a heavy snow-storm, 

 the weather being too thick to proceed with any 

 degree of safety. At 1 p. m., as it was still snowing 



