90 
VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
on the north side, where the massive pieces that 
had been forced upon it by the violence of storms, 
were generally in an upright position, so that the 
snow could not lodge upon the summits. Several 
yawning chasms that I had passed over in the ardour 
of the chase, I examined on my return ; and found 
the ice to vary in thickness from three feet to a 
thin stratum that would have been dangerous to 
pass over. Traces of bears, whose footsteps were 
very large, were observable on its surface. The rich 
tint of blue that filled the shades, gave a beautiful 
variety to this immense tract of whiteness. I can 
conceive nothing similar to it, unless it should be an 
unbounded plain covered with fragments of rock, 
and encased in snow. 
The lines, after three hours’ labour, having been 
hauled in and coiled up, we returned to the ship, 
where, perhaps, the most beautiful whale ever be- 
held, was lying, with its belly uppermost, ready for 
flincing. No admirer of black cattle ever saw in a 
favourite breed, marks more pleasing to the eye, 
better in their arrangement, or stronger contrasts 
of the purest black and white, than were exhibited 
on this fish. I now learned some interesting par- 
ticulars of this extraordinary whale ; besides fifteen 
lines of two hundred and forty yards each, which it 
had taken from our own boats, it had fast to it, 
six similar lines, a harpoon, and a boat belonging 
to the Trafalgar. For the purpose of affording an 
idea of the animal’s strength, I may mention, that it 
carried five thousand and forty yards of rope, weigh- 
