OF THE POLAR SEA. 115 



rious projecting outlines exhibiting the se- 

 veral gradations of distance, and the opposite 

 bases closing at the horizon. On the near- 

 est eminence, the objects were clearly de- 

 fined by their dark shadows ; the yellow 

 rays blended their softening hues with bril- 

 liant green on the next, and beyond it all 

 distinction melted into gray and purple. In 

 the long valley between, the smooth and 

 colourless Clear Water River wound its 

 spiral course, broken and shattered by en- 

 croaching woods. An exuberance of rich 

 herbage covered the soil, and lofty trees 

 climbed the precipice at our feet, hiding its 

 brink with their summits. Impatient as 

 we were, and blinded with pain, we paid a 

 tribute of admiration, which this beautiful 

 landscape is capable of exciting, unaided 

 by the borrowed charms of a calm atmos- 

 phere, glowing with the vivid tints of even- 

 ing. 



We descended to the banks of the Clear 

 Water River, and having encamped, the 

 I two men returned to assist their compa- 

 nions. We had sometimes before procured 

 i 2 



