1807.) 
to be of nearly equal height and terminas 
ting ina perpendicular peak. We first 
steered our Course towards this point; 
but finding it to be totally inaccessible, 
and the sea becoming more and more 
rough, we were obliged to turn to the. 
right and put into a small bay. 
It was during this passage that the 
North Cape appeared in all its grandeur, 
as I have endeavoured to representitat the 
moment I was taking my view, the nearest 
rocks seemed to be much higher than 
those of the peak, and the general appear- 
ance was much more picturesque than 
from any other point. The sea, break- 
ing against this immoveable rainpart, 
which had withstood its rage ever since 
the beginning of the world, beilowed, and 
formed a thick border of white froth; 
the midnight sun illumining this spectacle, 
equally beautiful and terrific; and the 
shade which covered the western side of 
the rocks rendered their aspect still more 
tremendous. I cannot pretend to state 
the height of these rocks; every thing 
here was on a grand seale, and no ordi- 
nary object afforded a point of compa- 
risou. Notwithstanding the motion of 
the boat [ teok several views of the Cape; 
but atlength we were obliged to enter the 
bay, theenly refuge that presented itself 
in this dismal region. 
We went on shore, and directing our 
steps toward the west, accidentally dis- 
eovered a grotto formed of rocks whose 
surface has been washed smooth by the 
waves. Some inequalities of the rock 
within, were a.substitute for seats; a de- 
tached stone served for a table; anda 
spring of fresh water ran at our feet. 
Excepting that there wasat the fartherend 
an outlet through which we discovered 
the sea, it was precisely the grotto of the 
/Eneid, 
Scopulis pendentibus antrum, 
Intus aque dulces, vivogue sedilia saxo. 
We kindled a fire with some pieces of 
‘wood thrown upon the shore by the 
waves; not a single tree was to be seen 
on the whole coast, nor any vestige in- 
dicating the abode of human beings. A 
hill, some hundred paces in circumfe- 
rence, and surrounded by enormous crags, 
is the only accessible spot. The sou- 
thern part of the island in which Kjelvig 
is situated, contained, according to Pon- 
toppidan, 50 or 60 families. M.Wahblen- 
berg found that their number was much 
stnailer. This traveller discovered seve- 
ral new species of plants, and mosses. 
From the summit of a hill, turning to- 
ward the sea, we saw to the right a pre- 
7 
Account of a recent Voyage to the North Cape. 
$31 
digious mountain, attached to the Cape, 
and rearing his sterile mass to the skies; 
to the left a neck of land covered with 
less elevated rocks, ayainst which the ~ 
surges dash with violence, closes the 
bay, and admits but a limited view ofthe 
ocean. One of the boatmen informed 
us that there wag once a church on this 
spot, but I afterwards learned that it was 
at the place where the last fishermen’s 
huts are situated. 
That we might see as much as PQssi- 
ble of the interior of the island, we 
climbed almost to the summit of the lofty 
mountain, where I made a drawing of 
the most singular landscape that ever my 
eyesbeheld. ‘he lake in the fore-ground 
is perhaps at the elevation of fifteen fa- 
thoms-above the surface of the sea, and 
there is another at the top of one of the 
Tountains, which border the former: 
the view is terminated by peaked rocks, 
chequered with patches of snow. 
Perceiving that the sea began to run 
very high beyond the Cape, we thought 
it adviseabie to hasten our departure, 
that in case of a tempest we might find a 
more agreeable asylum. At this mo- 
ment, the remembrance of the long fa- 
tigues we had undergone to gain a sight 
of some dreary rocks almost excited our 
laughter; but considering the space 
which still separated us from the civi- 
lized world, the toils, and, what was worse, 
the vexations which awaited us, before 
we could return to it, our reflexions as- 
sumed a graver Cast. 
We made our way without accident 
over the waves which seemed to be piled 
up at the outlet of the bay, and the wind 
soon became less violent. A species of 
aquatic birds, called alca artica, .were 
frequently seen skunming the surface 
of the waves very near our vessel; a large 
parrot-bill, exceedingly disproportioned 
to the diminutive size of the body, gave 
these birds a singular appearance. They 
plunged with astonishing velocity, and it 
was impossible to shoot any of them on 
the water. Some of them soon passed 
us on the wing, and -we killed two or 
three, which we could not get on board, 
on accountof the agitation of the sea. 
The wind abating a little, we stood off 
for Maso, where we were received by 
Mr, Buck, merchant of that place, with 
the hospitality which distinguishes the 
Norwegians, and with as much respect as 
though we had been princes. 
_ Maso is the northernmost port of 
Norwegien fapland. Its situated in Ja- 
titude 70° 59’ 54”, two Norwegian and 
three Swedisn mules from the Nurth 
Cape. 
