IpS ISLANDS. 319 
fie] r ^^'^^hward was afterwards impeded by an un- 
iif *^ 11 , J 1 °^ 'ow ice, tlie termination of which could nor 
Lj^is {jgi j”®*" to the east, west, or south. In different parts 
"'ere islands, or hills of ice, like tliose which 
•tis ^ leritrti?®®'' found floating in the sea. 
% as th^ ice-islands became as familiar to those on 
\v] • '^^ouds and the sea. Whenever a strong reflcc- 
'f® "'as seen on the skirU of the sky, near the 
ice was sure to be encountered ; notwith- 
- i^nt 
!;ure 
*i"ch, that substance itself was not entirely 
often tinged, especially near the surface of the 
If b beautiful sapphirinc, or rather berrylhne 
reflected from the water. This blue colour 
C ^ appeared twenty or thirty feet above the surface, 
tiu "een J 7*^iy produced by particles of sea water which 
iv ftp ® against the mass in tempestuous weather, 
Viu*®ttin„'?®^*'^ied into its interstices. In the evening, the 
V §old° '^oi’ind one of' tlrese masses, tinged its edges 
Of p fcflected on the entire mass a beautiful suf- 
In the larger masses were frequently ob- 
Sotn of white, lying above each other in 
six inches, and at otlier times of a foot 
■^nis appearance seemed to confirm the opinion 
'C tlassp*^® to the increase and accumulation of such 
frsi sn '’y itetnr fsUs of snow at different inter- 
'0^’ in V 'u ^®i®S of various kinds, small-grained, large- 
0 >tip 3 , ‘Snt feathery locks, &c. ; the various degrees of 
fi. toess may account for the different colours of tire 
IjsHis tj^. 
%' Cap( . attempt to proceed southward, in January, 
^ * "'as "'as letij by the mildest sun-shine 
ever experienced in the frigid zone, 
- Qthg of penetrating as far toward the south 
I *^6 L^avigators had done toward the north jaole ; 
'■V^ers of that month, at four in the morning, 
ifisiu '^^'^''^fed a solid ice-field of immense extent 
^tak®®ateH “®®‘'i‘'g from east to west. A bed of frag- 
\ tovg around this field, which was raised several 
®0''face of the water. While in tins situation, 
^'ght op ^i*o liorizon was illuminated by the 
^'Saven ■ otod ^o'^ the ice, to a considerable height. 
^00-islands were distinctly seen within tlie 
