GREENLAND OR POLAR ICE. 333 



of the severity of the weather, might be avoided 

 by a judicious choice of woollen clothing ; the ex- 

 ternal air being met by an outward garment of 

 varnished silk, and the face defended by a mask, 

 with eyes of glass. The exterior garment, would, 

 at the same time, be water-proof, and thus 

 capable of shielding the body from accidental 

 moisture. 



(J).) The white bear is the only ferocious ani- 

 mal known to inhabit those regions, and he rarely 

 makes an attack upon man. At any rate, he 

 might be repulsed by any offensive weapon. And, 

 as the prey of the bears is scarce in the most 

 northern latitudes, they would not probably occur 

 in any abundance. 



4. Hitherto no insurmountable objection has 

 been presented : a few serious obstacles, should 

 they occur, remain to be considered. 



(^7.) Mountainous land, like mountainous ice, 

 would check the progress of the expedition, in 

 proportion to the ruggedness of its surface, and 

 the steepness of its cliffs. Its occurrence would, 

 nevertheless, form an interesting discovery. 



(^.) From the pretended excursionsof the Dutch, 

 many have believed that the sea at the Pole is free 

 from ice ; were this really the case, the circum- 

 stance would certainly be an extraordinary one ; 

 but I consider it too improbable to render it ne- 

 cessary to hazard any opinion concerning it. 



