VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
11 
or sides, which presented inclined planes, reiiected 
a glare of light, that perfectly dazzled my eyes, and 
which I can only compare to that obtained by the 
chemical process of inflaming carbon or phosphorus 
in oxygen. My renovated health gave me this day 
an opportunity of attending the duties usual in this 
ship on the Sabbath : morning, afternoon, and even- 
ing service, were performed in the most devout man- 
ner by our excellent commander, who, in sermons 
well suited to a sailor s mind, called the attention of 
his crew to the serious consideration of their past, 
present, and future lives. In the evening, the wind 
began to blow strong ; and being accompanied with 
snow, we did not see the sun take its last departure 
that we were likely to witness for some months ; 
for, if we continued sailing for twenty-four hours 
longer, in this direction, it would then be our con- 
stant companion, and yield us continued day. I 
remained on the deck this evening till half past 
ten o’clock, enjoying the benefit of the light. La- 
titude by observation, 73° north ; thermometer 30°. 
Altering our course in the night to the 
April 30 . clear of several large 
masses of ice, much sail was carried on the ship, 
and having run far enough for that purpose, we 
changed to our destined course of north-east. 
Towards the evening the water lost its former 
blueness, and became less transparent: as we pro- 
ceeded, it was yet more turbid, and acquired the 
appearance of dark water, in which whales are 
said to delight, the surface assuming a dark bottle- 
