Sketch of the Geology of the Arctic Regions. 15 



mixed with shining silvery specks, and full of transparent garnets — no 

 salt, alum, or nitre. A fine bright glimmer sand, of a golden color, 

 abounds in some of the vallies ; and it is stated by Egede, that its 

 appearance was so seducing, that two successive expeditions were 

 sent from Denmark, in the early part of the eighteenth century,* for 

 cargoes of it, in the expectation of finding gold. Not discouraged 

 by the first failure, a second ship was laden with it, which after the 

 most careful analysis, was found worthless, and the enterprize ter- 

 minated in a total loss. 



In fenny places, turf, or peat is found interspersed with roots, 

 branches, decayed wood, and withered grass. Much of the peat 

 contains sea shells, and fossil remains, from which it is suspected, 

 that the sea washed over it, and retreated from it at some distant 

 day. No wood grows, but drift wood is frequently obtained on the sea 

 coasts, particularly in the soutliern and western parts. The east sea 

 coast being inaccessible, by reason of the mountains of ice, is termed 

 "Lost Greenland;" and although the inhabitants have many tra- 

 ditions concerning it, they cannot be quoted as authentic data, being 

 little better than distorted legends. The west coast is indented with 

 deep bays, which are believed by many to be straits, passing through 

 to the Atlantic Ocean, dividing Greenland into a succession of islands ; 

 but the extent of the gulfs, and the northern boundaries of the land 

 are unknown, although the N. E. coasts, from 72° to 80°, have 

 been explored by Mr. Scoresby. 



V. Iceland. 



This island, if not originally thrown up by volcanic explosions, ex- 

 hibits, over its whole surface, the results of such action, being every 

 where marked by volcanic remains. 



Iceland may be said to be planted with volcanos, in constant ac- 

 tivity, every bristling peak, sooner or later, vomiting fire. The 

 minerals mingled with the lavas, correspond with those found among 

 volcanic substances, in other latitudes ; and it may be inferred that 

 the formation is analogous to that of those mountainous tracts which 

 are agitated by volcanic agencies in other parts of the globe. The 

 pumice, zeolites, enamels, jaspers, flints, and the scorise, seen by 



Kirquilen, in his voyage to the North, says it was in 1636, 



