65 
case, the refraction of the solar rays is 
the most beautiful; and the appearance 
of those floating mountains on the side 
opposite the sun, presents such a blaze 
of light, intermingled with different glow¬ 
ing tints, as totally to baffle descrip¬ 
tion. 
I have not unfrequently seen floating 
masses of ice which had evidently been 
formed of drifted snow, since they want¬ 
ed the compactness and solidity of those 
formed by the melting of the l snows. 
Some of these contained trees, and (as 
there are no trees in Spitzbergen) must 
have been originally formed in the north¬ 
ern parts of Russia or America, and, be¬ 
ing carried by the rapid rivers of these 
countries into the ocean, have drifted 
into these latitudes. 
“ Frost,” says the eloquent Pennant, 
u sports with these Icebergs, and gives 
them majestic as well as other singular 
forms, Masses have been seen, assu- 
E 
