TEE SHETLAND^ 
07 
we sight some sailing vessels in the far distance, and 
although we have not as yet seen the “ northern 
lights,” the atmosphere presents a remarkable, and to 
ns entirely novel aspect: the cloudless air is filled 
with prismatic reflections, by turns pale white, and 
then yellow, and green. The older hands declare 
that it portends an easterly wind if seen further 
north; but here, so far south, it surely indicates that 
the pack ice is well south. 
The 25th of May finds us to the southward of 
the Shetlands, and we hope to make the south en¬ 
trance of Lerwick Harbour before twelve next day. 
The north entrance is narrow and studded with rocks; 
.and our chart was somewhat old ; we passed the south 
^entrance during the night, having made a bad land fall; 
the wind had shifted, then having daylight with us y 
we essayed the northern entrance, luckily with no 
worse accident than a slight graze against an unseen 
rock ; but we are glad it is no worse, and soon for¬ 
get the misadventure as we land in this pretty little 
fishing-town. The place reminds us of the well- 
remembered lines:— 
“ Within a long recess there lies a hay, 
An island shades it from the rolling sea, 
And forms a port secure for ships to ride. 
Broke by the jutting land, on either side 
In double streams, the briny waters glide 
Between two rows of rocks.” 
