82 NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY, 



The depth of thefe canals is from twenty-five to thirty and thirty- 

 five fathoms ; and from the difparity of the depths, ancLthe eafy 

 whirling of the water in them, the bottom appears to refemble 

 the land, that is, to confift of eminences and vallies. 



Fourthly, in the middle of this vortex is a deep pit, which on 

 its banks meafures from fifty to fifty-eight fathoms deep ; but in 

 its middle is generally not lefs than fixty-one. This innermoft 

 water is on its furface perfectly calm and fmooth, only moving in a 

 gentle circle, as is manifeft from the foam of the fea ; which, on 

 its devolution from the vortex, moves in a circle. On the fouth fide 

 of this pit, a rock, ten fathom high, rifes out of the water ; it is 

 called Sumboe-munk, and here the depth of the water is but fif- 

 teen fathoms. North of this rock lie fix flieers, betwixt which, 

 and the rock, the depth of water is three or four fathoms. And 

 what is very remarkable (and which I have accordingly taken no- 

 tice of elfewhere) among thefe fheers the compafs turns round, 

 in the manner of the vortex, and is ipoilt by the motion. Like- 

 wife, at fome height on Sumboe-munk, there is this fingularity* 

 that in the midft of fummer, and in a ftrong mnfhine, the people 

 who go thither to catch birds, can hardly ftand in their ambuf- 

 , cades for cold ; befides, the very birds which breed and live there, 

 are fo extremely bare of flefh, that their whole fubflance is little 

 more than their feathers \ but of the caufe of this fingular cold, 

 I can only form uncertain conjectures. The water about Ferroe, 

 however efTentially cold, yet by its faltnefs and agitation, ufually 

 attemperates the winter's feverity in Ferroe ; I cannot therefore 

 comprehend, how the frequent agitations of this ftream againft 

 the rock, mould by an effect quite oppofite, occafion fuch an ex- 

 traordinary cold. It might, by way of a folution, be faid, that there 

 being a magnetic power in thefe fheers, as the centre of thefe round 

 fhallows, there muft in the other round ihallows be a ftrong mag- 

 net, which, befides the force of the current, rapidly draws large 

 fhips from their courfe ; and if it be granted, that fuch magnets 

 are there, then I fubmit it to the judgment of others, whether the 

 caufe of this fingular cold is to be fought for in thefe magnetic 

 powers. 



Fifthly, north of the vortex, towards the Suder iiland, there 



are other protuberances in the bottom, againft which the current 



a is 



