190 
VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
the boldest and most picturesque headlands ima- 
ginable. The sun had now begun partially to shine 
upon the coast, and to cheer us with its delightful 
rays as we passed along; embellishing the fertilized 
land, and gilding the little patches of yellow corn, 
scattered over the face of the mountains. After 
having so long witnessed the dreary and desolate 
prospect of ice and snow, unrelieved by the sight 
of a single habitation, the enchanting picture of 
verdant hills studded with earth, of luxuriant corn 
fields, waving with the weight of the bounties of 
Providence, and of the peaceful abodes of civiliza- 
tion, produced a pleasure of which it would be 
vain to attempt a description. This pleasing view 
attended us while we sailed along the coast, and 
until the frightful appearance of rocks and breakers, 
warning us of hidden dangers, bade us keep further 
aloof from the land. These rocks are called the 
Maidens ; and in their faithless arms many a sailor 
has miserably perished. 
The wind now changing to the S.S.W., began 
to blow a hurricane, and every effort was made to 
weather the much dreaded rocks, called the Chick- 
ens, projecting from the south of the Isle of Man, 
but all in vain ; and we were obliged to beat 
between that island and Ireland, during one of the 
most dismal nights ever experienced; in the course 
of which we were, by a change of wind, blown 
nearly into one of the bights of the Irish coast, 
where we must inevitably have perished. We also 
