letters from high latitudes-第22章
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topped like a sugar…loaf； but needle…shaped； pointed like the spire of a church。 If only my Hull skipper were as good a draughtsman as he seemed to be a seaman； we should now be on our way to one of the wonders of the world。 Most people here hold out rather a doleful prospect； and say that； in the first place； it is probable the whole island will be imprisoned within the eternal fields of ice； that lie out for upwards of a hundred and fifty miles along the eastern coast of Greenland； and next； that if even the sea should be clear in its vicinity； the fogs up there are so dense and constant that the chances are very much against our hitting the land。 But the fact of the last French man…of…war which sailed in that direction never having returned； has made those seas needlessly unpopular at Reykjavik。
It was during one of these fogs that Captain Fotherby； the original discoverer of Jan Mayen； stumbled upon it in 1614。 While sailing southwards in a mist too thick to see a ship's length off； he。 suddenly heard the noise of waters breaking on a great shore； and when the gigantic bases of Mount Beerenberg gradually disclosed themselves； he thought he had discovered some new continent。 Since then it has been often sighted by homeward…bound whalers； but rarely landed upon。 About the year 1633 the Dutch Government； wishing to establish a settlement in the actual neighbourhood of the fishing…grounds； where the blubber might be boiled down； and the spoils of each season transported home in the smallest bulk；actually induced seven seamen to volunteer remaining the whole winter on the island。 ＇Footnote： The names of the seven Dutch seamen who attempted to winter in Jan Mayen's Island were： Outgert Jacobson； of Grootenbrook； their commander； Adrian Martin Carman； of Schiedam； clerk； Thauniss Thaunissen； of Schermehem； cook； Dick Peterson； of Veenhuyse； Peter Peterson； of Harlem； Sebastian Gyse； of Defts…Haven； Gerard Beautin； of Bruges。＇ Huts were built for them； and having been furnished with an ample supply of salt provisions； they were left to resolve the problem； as to whether or no human beings could support the severities of the climate。 Standing on the shore； these seven men saw their comrades' parting sails sink down beneath the sun；then watched the sun sink； as had sunk the sails；but extracts from their own simple narrative are the most touching record I can give you of their fate：
〃The 26th of August； our fleet set sail for Holland with a strong north…east wind； and a hollow sea； which continued all that night。 The 28th； the wind the same； it began to snow very hard； we then shared half a pound of tobacco betwixt us； which was to be our allowance for a week。 Towards evening we went about together； to see whether we could discover anything worth our observation； but met with nothing。〃 And so on for many a weary day of sleet and storm。
On the 8th of September they 〃were frightened by a noise of something falling to the ground；〃probably some volcanic disturbance。 A month later； it becomes so cold that their linen； after a moment's exposure to the air； becomes frozen like a board。 ＇Footnote： The climate； however； does not appear to have been then so inclement in these latitudes as it has since become。 A similar deterioration in the temperature； both of Spitzbergen and Greenland； has also been observed。 In Iceland we have undoubted evidence of corn having been formerly grown； as well as of the existence of timber of considerable size； though now it can scarcely produce a cabbage； or a stunted shrub of birch。 M。 Babinet； of the French Institute； goes a little too far when he says； in the Journal des Debats of the 30th December； 1856； that for many years Jan Mayen has been inaccessible。＇ Huge fleets of ice beleaguered the island； the sun disappears； and they spend most of their time in 〃rehearsing to one another the adventures that had befallen them both by sea and land。〃 On the 12th of December they kill a bear； having already begun to feel the effects of a salt diet。 At last comes New Year's Day； 1636。 〃After having wished each other a happy new year； and success in our enterprise； we went to prayers； to disburthen our hearts before God。〃 On the 25th of February （the very day on which Wallenstein was murdered） the sun reappeared。 By the 22nd of March scurvy had already declared itself： 〃For want of refreshments we began to be very heartless； and so afflicted that our legs are scarce able to bear us。〃 On the 3rd of April； 〃there being no more than two of us in health； we killed for them the only two pullets we had left； and they fed pretty heartily upon them； in hopes it might prove a means to recover part of their strength。 We were sorry we had not a dozen more for their sake。〃 On Easter Day； Adrian Carman； of Schiedam； their clerk； dies。 〃The Lord have mercy upon his soul； and upon us all； we being very sick。〃 During the next few days they seem all to have got rapidly worse； one only is strong enough to move about。 He has learnt writing from his comrades since coming to the island； and it is he who concludes the melancholy story。 〃The 23rd （April）； the wind blew from the same corner； with small rain。 We were by this time reduced to a very deplorable state； there being none of them all； except myself； that were able to help themselves； much less one another； so that the whole burden lay upon my shoulders；and I perform my duty as well as I am able； as long as God pleases to give me strength。 I am just now a…going to help our commander out of his cabin； at his request； because he imagined by this change to ease his pain； he then struggling with death。〃 For seven days this gallant fellow goes on 〃striving to do his duty；〃 that is to say； making entries in the journal as to the state of the weather； that being the principal object their employers had in view when they left them on the island； but on the 30th of April his strength too gave way； and his failing hand could do no more than trace an incompleted sentence on the page。
＇Figure： fig…p090。gif＇
Meanwhile succour and reward are on their way toward the forlorn garrison。 On the 4th of June； up again above the horizon rise the sails of the Zealand fleet； but no glad faces come forth to greet the boats as they pull towards the shore； and when their comrades search for those they had hoped to find alive and well；lo！ each lies dead in his own hut；one with an open Prayer…book by his side； another with his hand stretched out towards the ointment he had used for his stiffened joints； and the last survivor； with the unfinished journal still lying by his side。
The most recent recorded landing on the island was effected twenty…two years ago； by the brave and pious Captain； now Dr。 Scoresby；＇Footnote： I regret to be obliged to subjoin that Dr。 Scoresby has died since the above was written。＇ on his return from a whaling cruise。 He had seen the mountain of Beerenberg one hundred miles off； and； on approaching； found the coast quite clear of ice。 According to his survey and observations； Jan Mayen is about sixteen miles long； by four wide； but I hope soon； on my own authority； to be able to tell you more about it。
Certainly； this our last evening spent in Iceland will not have been the least joyous of our stay。 The dinner on board the 〃Reine Hortense〃 was very pleasant。 I renewed acquaintance with some of my old Baltic friends； and was presented to two or three of the Prince's staff who did not accompany the expedition to the Geysirs； among others； to the Duc d'Abrantes； Marshal Junot's son。 On sitting down to table； I found myself between H。I。H。 and Monsieur de Saulcy； member of the French Institute； who made that famous expedition to the Dead Sea； and is one of the gayest； pleasantest persons I have ever met。 Of course there was a great deal of laughing and talking； as well as much speculation with regard to the costume of the Icelandic ladies we were to see at the ball。 It appears that the dove…cots of Reykjavik have been a good deal fluttered by an announcement emanating from the gallant Captain of the 〃Artemise〃 that his fair guests would be expected to come in low dresses； for it would seem that the practice of showing their ivory shoulders is； as yet； an idea as shocking to
