10 
VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
ganger, or rope immediately attached to the har- 
poon, to be spanned on the socket at the shank of 
the weapon. I was much amused with this last 
process, as there were interwoven in the rope, at 
distances of two or three feet, pieces of riband of 
various colours. These decorations I was informed 
were the gifts of the men’s sweethearts ; on some, 
I observed pieces that had undergone the useful 
office of garters ; this at once elucidated the ‘‘ magic 
spell,” as they were intended to animate the powers 
of the harpooner, who derives fame, and conse- 
quently, the approbation of his lass, in proportion 
to the number of whales he is able to strike and to 
capture. 
I had a most refreshing night’s rest ; and 
Ypril 29 . o & ’ 
the brightness of the sun, reflecting through 
the convex lens into my cabin, urged me to rise 
early: a more beautiful day never shone from the 
heavens, and I felt infinitely cheered by the in- 
fluence of the solar rays. Scarcely had my eye 
met the “ vasty deep,” all dressed in coldest blue, 
when it was attracted by pieces of ice, of perfect 
alabaster whiteness, with which the great circle of 
ocean was studded. As we proceeded, they in- 
creased in size, exciting my admiration and sur- 
prise, as I had never seen any thing of the kind 
before : they resembled human busts, towers, slender 
spires, massy pyramids, and every other form that it 
is possible to imagine : varying in height from four 
to ten feet, and in extent from ten to fifty yards. 
The rays of the brilliant sun on some of the angles, 
