( m ) 
Art. XXIII. — Narrative of an 'Excursim upon the Island of 
Jan Mayen ; containing some Account of its Appearance and 
Productions. By William' Scoresby junior, F.Pt.S. Edin. 
and M.W.S. Communicated by the Author^. 
J AN Mayi^n received its name from that of its discoverer, 
who visited this island, according to the Dutch authorities, in 
the year 1611*'; but as their whale-fishery did not commence 
until 1612, it is probable that it was not discovered until after 
that period. It is situated in the Greenland Sea, in latitude 
70° 49' to- 71° ,8' 20" N. and longitude T 25' 48" to 8° 44' W. 
On approaching Jan Mayen, the first object which strikes the 
attention, when the atmosphere is clear, is Beerenberg-j^. This 
mountain rears its icy summit to the height of 6870 feet above 
the level of the sea, and frequently appears above the clouds. It 
is seated on a base which is of itself mountainous. The general 
appearance of the land strikingly resembles that of the coast of 
Spitzbergen, both in colour and character. As at Spitzbergen, 
your approach to it seems amazingly tardy. At the distance of 
ten or fifteen miles, a stranger would suppise himself with- 
in half a league of the rocks. This deception arises partly from 
the great elevation of the sea-coast, and partly frqpi the strong 
contrast of light and shade, produced by the blackness of the 
rocks and the whiteness of the snow, with which the land is in a 
great measure covered. At this time (August the 4th), all the 
high lands were covered with snow and ice ; and the low lands, 
in those deep cavities where large beds of snow had been col- 
lected, still retained part of their winter covering, down to the 
very margin of the sea. 
Between the Capes North-east and South-east, three remark- 
able icebergs appear. They occupy three hollows in the cliff, 
which is almost perpendicular, extending from the base of Beer- 
enberg to the water’s edge. Their perpendicular height, ascer^ 
tained geometrically, appeared to be about 1284 feet. These 
*■ This paper w^s read before the Wernerian Natural History Society on the 
^th of December 1817. 
J Besthryving der Walvisvangst, dtfl. ii. bl. 
Mountain of Beats, ^ 
