104 



OLAFSEN AND POVELSEN'S 



district pretend that the ice decreases towards the foot of the 

 mountain ; but they do not observe that this change proceeds 

 from a thaw, which diminishes its extent towards the fields. The 

 tnuddy bottom beneath these heaps of ice is likewise exposed to 

 variations : occasioned by the passage of currents of water, which 

 carry with them a great quantity of soil, and thus produce a 

 vast aperture, through which the rays of the sun can penetrate 

 and partly melt the ice; which, thus possessing no longer a suffi- 

 cient thickness to support their super-posed mass, often break and 

 sink down. 



ON THE PASSAGE OF MASSES OF ICE. 



We cannot refrain from mentioning the conveyance of masses 

 of ice from Greenland; since they are often carried as far as these 

 roads, and particularly towards Isefiord and the coasts of the 

 North Cape, or Cape Nord. We learn by the ancient annals 

 of Iceland that this circumstance has always occurred, and that 

 irorn it the Isefiord derived its name. Some time afterwards they 

 gave the name of Iceland to the whole country, because the in- 

 habitants called these masses Hav-Iis. It is incontestable, that 

 this ice comes from the coast of Greenland, since every one 

 fcnows of the enormous heaps that are formed there. They are 

 conveyed towards Iceland by the west and north-west winds ; and 

 not only fill all the bays, but also cover the sea to such an ex- 

 tent, that from the summits of the highest hills, the extre- 

 mities of the ice can scarcely be distinguished. These masses 

 are like mountains ; so enormous indeed, that they penetrate from 

 sixty to eighty fathoms into the water, and rise several fathoms 

 above the surface. This conveyance of ice takes place with 

 astonishing rapidity, and is accompanied with a crashing noise 

 that may be heard at a distance. The shock of the fragments, 

 when they meet together, is terrible ; so much so, that the timber 

 which they carry with them often takes fire by the force of the 

 friction. These heaps of ice frequently carry off in their course 

 little isles and projecting portions of land, as well as masses of 

 rock against which they happen to strike. They cause an altera- 

 tion in the bottom of the sea near the main land; and disjoin 

 promontories, and salient parts of mountains and rocks. When 

 they are unfortunately driven up the bays, towards the interior of 

 the country, the poor inhabitants are convinced that they shall 

 experience a bad year, an excessive scarcity of provisions, and 

 every concomitant misery. When a severe dearth is occasioned 

 by the heaps of ice which have been propelled towards the shore 

 of the northern part of Iceland, the southern districts also suffer 

 from it, though the ice does not reach them. 



The north, part of the island is likewise exposed to rigorous 



