In the months of April and May, the west ice breaks, because it lyeth westward, which drives dispersed in the sea, by the Island of John Mayen, and reacheth to Spitzbergen, where at that time it was firm still.

The difference between the ice of Spitzbergen and that of our country is, that it is not smooth there, so as to slide upon it.

Neither is it so clear nor transparent, nor so sharp and cutting, but a great deal harder, and is not easily broke or split; but it looketh likest unto the ground-ice of the rivers in our country, or like unto loaf-sugar.

Where the ice is fixed upon the sea, you see a snow-white brightness in the skies, as if the sun shined; for the snow is reflected by the air, just as a fire by night is; but at a distance you see the air blew or blackish: where there is many small ice-fields, that are as meadows for the seales, you see no lustre or brightness of the skies.

The sea dasheth against these ice-fields, which occasioneth several fine figures; not that they are naturally framed so, but just as ice-flowers on our glass-windows get all sorts of figures: for these are framed by the dashing of the sea, like unto mountains, steeples, chappels, tables, and all sorts of beasts.