106 



OLAFSEN AND FOVELSEft's 



cyclopteri also, when taken near the ice, have but one eye, 

 The rapidity with which these masses move in their course, is a 

 circumstance very remarkable, particularly when the wind is 

 contrary ; and when it corresponds with the current, there is 

 no boat in full sail which can proceed with the same celerity. 

 This swiftness of motion may be accounted for by the depth 

 which the ice sinks in the water, by which it does not preserve 

 any great elevation above the surface: hence the current has more 

 power over it than the wind. We cannot be less astonished at 

 the duration of this ice ; for some masses, when they touch the 

 bottom of the sea, remain there upwards of a year, though the 

 part that projects above the water soon melts by the heat of the 

 sun. When the weather becomes mild, there are at first formed 

 in these mountains of ice a number of holes, about six or eight 

 feet deep, and wide enough to contain the arm : these holes are 

 filled with a limpid water, which ha3 a very agreeable flavour, 

 and is excellent for allaying thirst. The reason why this ice does 

 not melt easily is, that it is very hard, compact, and contains no 

 air-bubbles; while, being collected in very large and thick masses, 

 it is preserved by its natural coldness. It also reflects from its 

 smooth and shining surface the rays of the sun ; and is continu- 

 ally in the sea-water, whirh in this northern latitude is tolerably 

 salt. It is likewise very white ; and contains but very few hete- 

 rogeneous particles, which would contribute to its solution. On 

 examining the clefts in the surface of the ice and its sides, it 

 might be supposed to be of a greenish colour ; but tliis arises 

 only from the rarified state of the light. There may be distin- 

 guished two kinds of ice, which separate from each oilier in 

 their course : the first is called Haltu zee, which is even, and 

 much thinner than the other, for it is not more than from one to 

 three toises in thickness ; so that it appears to have been formed 

 in the sea, near the extremity of a glacier. The inhabitants re- 

 joice when they see this kind of ice arrive, because it disperses 

 and melts in a short space of time. The other kind is the enor- 

 mous masses of ice already mentioned ; which are as large ?i3 

 rocks, and appear to have been detached from the glaciers where 

 they were formed., and where they gradually acquired" their enor- 

 mous size. 



There are also many different opinions respecting this ice, but 

 all of them are unfounded : we shall mention only two, which 

 have been adopted by foreigners and learned men. The first is, 

 that this ice consists mostly of saltpetre, and that it might 

 be employed in the manufacture of gunpowder. But if 

 these persons could procure a piece of the ice in question, they 

 would soon be convinced of their error. The other opinion, 

 though still more improbable and even ridiculous, has ueverthe- 



