INTRODUCTION. 
lix 
rent; and ebb and flow of the tide are all in dis¬ 
order and confusion: but* as soon as they become 
stationary in the gulpbs and inlets* and the waters 
have carried away the smaller detached pieces* 
nature returns to its accustomed state of order 
and regularity; the weather growing calm in the 
country* and the air thick and loaded with fogs* 
though at the same time accompanied by a moist 
and penetrating cold. Among the inconveniences 
arising from the arrival of this ice* besides the 
excessive cold which destroys vegetation and 
cattle* is to be reckoned the opportunity it af¬ 
fords for the white bears of Greenland to visit 
the country* which they occasionally do in alarm¬ 
ing numbers* and render it necessary for the 
natives to assemble in parties for the purpose of 
destroying them* lest so unwelcome a visitor 
should fix himself permanently among them. 
In mentioning the general face of the country 
I cannot do better than copy the exclamation of 
Von Troil on his arrival. “ Imagine to yourself 
“■ an island, which from one end to the other 
“ presents to your view only barren mountains* 
“ whose summits are covered with eternal snow* 
“ and between them fields divided by vitrified 
“ cliffs* whose high and sharp points seem to vie 
“ with each other to deprive you of the sight of 
a little grass which scantily springs up among 
