30 
VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
on these mountains of ice, from the brightness of 
the sun on objects so constantly changing their 
form, would exceed the power of an artist to repre- 
sent, or of the most fertile imagination to conceive. 
To an admirer of the art of sailing, nothing could 
afford a higher treat than was exhibited this day, 
in passing through a sea covered with pieces of ice, 
under a pressure of sail, closely hauled, and going 
at the rate of eight miles an hour. In one direc- 
tion, was a stream composed of pieces of ice, closely 
joined ; in another, pieces near each other, through 
which the ship could only make its way by con- 
tinual tacking, while immense hummocks threatened 
our destruction, if we did not respect their conse- 
quence by giving way to them. Through these we 
passed without the slightest accident. It was a 
most gratifying sight, proving great tractability in 
the ship, prompt and decisive judgment in the com- 
mander, and obedience in the crew ; it displayed 
the perfection of nautical excellence, and convinced 
me, that the best school to attain practical seaman- 
ship, is a Greenland voyage. A considerable swell 
beginning to be observable, and its consequences 
being known to produce difficulties and dangers 
among heavy pieces of ice, this, added to the dis- 
appointment of not seeing whales in a place where 
it was usual to find them, induced us to sail to 
the westward, to get a new situation. The hemis- 
phere having been cloudless all day, with the sun 
gloriously illuminating both day and night, I was so 
struck by the delightful temperature, as to watch. 
