370 THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE chap. 



surface was unruffled by a breeze, formed an 

 immense expanse on the west ; the glaciers, 

 rearing their proud crests almost to the tops 

 of mountains between which they were lodged, 

 and defying the power of the solar beams, 

 were scattered in various directions about the 

 sea-coast and in the adjoining bays. Beds of 

 snow and ice filling extensive hollows, and 

 giving an enamelled coat to adjoining valleys, 

 one of which, commencing at the foot of the 

 mountain where we stood, extended in a con- 

 tinual line towards the north, as far as the eye 

 could reach — mountain rising above moun- 

 tain, until by distance they dwindled into 

 insignificance, the whole contrasted by a cloud- 

 less canopy of deepest azure, and enlightened 

 by the rays of a blazing sun, and the effect, 

 aided by a feeling of danger, seated as we 

 were on the pinnacle of a rock almost sur- 

 rounded by tremendous precipices — all united 

 to constitute a picture singularly sublime." 



One of the glaciers of Spitzbergen is 11 

 miles in breadth when it reaches the sea- 

 coast, the highest part of the precipitous front 

 adjoining the sea being over 400 feet, and it 



