t 33 } 



be prefumed, that the circumpolar feas are very fait, becaufc 

 there is probably no fuch influx beyond N. lat. 80, Spitzbergen 

 itfelf having no rivers. 



Having thus given fome general reafons, why the fea mould 

 not be fuppofed to be frozen in the ten higheft degrees of lati- 

 tude, I (hall now proceed to lay before the Society, feveral in- 

 ftances, which I have lately collected, and which prove that it is 

 not fo covered with ice confiderably to the N. of 80 1. 



I fhall, however, previoufly make two obfervations ; the firft 

 of which is, that every inftance of exceeding N. lat. 8oi , as 

 much proves that there is no perpetual barrier of ice in that lati- 

 tude, as if the navigator hath reached the Pole. The fecond is, 

 that as four experienced Greenland matters have concurred in in- 

 forming me, that they can fee what is called the blink of the ice c , 

 for a degree before them, they never can be off Hakluyt's Head- 

 land, which is fituated in 79 0 50', without obferving this effect 

 of the ice upon the fky, if there was a perpetual barrier at 80 i., 

 which is not much more than half a degree from them, when 

 in that fituation. Now Hakluyt's Headland is what they fo per- 

 petually take their departures from, that it hath obtained the 

 name of The Headland by way of preeminence. 



This mountain alfo is fo high, that it can be diftinguifhed at 

 the diftance of a degree : in fuch inftances, therefore, which I 

 fhall produce, that do not fettle the latitude by obfervation, 

 whenever the reckoning depends upon the approach or departure 

 from this Headland, the account receives the additional check of 



c This is defcribed to be an arch formed upon the clouds by re- 

 flection from the packed ice. Where the ice is fixed upon the fea. 70 a 

 fee a fnow-white brightnefs in the ikies, as if the fun mined, for the 

 fnow is reflected by the air juft as a fire by night is, but at a diftance 

 you fee the air blue or blackifh. Where there are many fmall ice 

 fields, which are as meadows for the feales, you fee no luftre or bright- 

 nefs of the fkies. — Martens's Voyage to Spitzbergen. 



