VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
29 
with the richness of ultramarine. This I found to 
arise from the atmospheric light transmitted through 
the vacuities of the ice, which possesses the pro- 
perty of decomposing light. Latitude 76° 10' north. 
The wind having blown extremely hard 
all night, the ship was brought to, and 
just at the call of the morning watch, a whale was 
seen going with great rapidity to windward : four 
boats were sent in pursuit, but from the great head- 
sea, the most strenuous exertions proved ineffectual 
to come up with it. The signal of recall, (a ball at 
the mizen topmast head,) therefore brought them 
back again to the ship, without the reward which 
their efforts merited. We lay to all the day, from a 
continuance of the south-east gale. 
The wind, which had unceasingly blown, 
May 10 . often with great violence, since the 
afternoon of the 1st instant, ceased, and, changing 
to the east, settled to a pleasant breeze. After 
breakfast, we made sail to windward, through an im- 
mense tract, studded with pieces of heavy hum- 
mocky ice, bearing a variety of grotesque forms; 
one, in particular, resembling an immense bear, at 
least twenty feet high, was uncommonly curious ; 
as we passed, it appeared to be sculptured from 
the finest statuary marble, and beautifully polished 
by the action of the waves. The sun was shining 
with its richest splendour, and so great was its in- 
fluence in dazzling the eyes, that Captain Scoresby 
was obliged to leave the crow’s nest, to get a pair 
of green spectacles. The variety of tints displayed 
