letters from high latitudes-第20节
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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 the pretty ladies of this country as waltzes were to our grandmothers。 Nay； there was not even to be found a native milliner equal to the task of marking out that mysterious line which divides the prudish from the improper； so that the Collet…monte faction have been in despair。 As it turned out； their anxiety on this head was unnecessary； for we found； on entering the ball…room； that； with the natural refinement which characterises this noble people； our bright…eyed partners； as if by inspiration； had hit off the exact sweep from shoulder to shoulder； at whichafter those many oscillations； up and down； which the female corsage has undergone since the time of the first Directorgood taste has finally arrested it。
I happened to be particularly interested in the above important question； for up to that moment I had always been haunted by a horrid paragraph I had met with somewhere in an Icelandic book of travels； to the effect that it was the practice of Icelandic women； from early childhood； to flatten down their bosoms as much as possible。 This fact； for the honour of the island； I am now in a position to deny； and I here declare that； as far as I had the indiscretion to observe； those maligned ladies appeared to me as buxom in form as any rosy English girl I have ever seen。
It was nearly nine o'clock before we adjourned from the 〃Reine Hortense；〃 to the ball。 Already； for some time past； boats full of gay dresses had been passing under the corvette's stern on their way to the 〃Artemise；〃 looking like flower…beds that had put to sea；though they certainly could no longer be called a parterre；and by the time we ourselves mounted her lofty sides； a mingled stream of music； light； and silver laughter； was pouring out of every port…hole。 The ball…room was very prettily arranged。 The upper deck had been closed in with a lofty roof of canvas； from which hung suspended glittering lustres； formed by bayonets with their points collected into an inverted pyramid； and the butt…ends serving as sockets for the tapers。 Every wall was gay with flags；the frigate's frowning armament all hid or turned to ladies' uses： 82 pounders became sofasboarding…pikes； balustradespistols； candlesticksthe brass carronades set on end； pillarwise； their brawling mouths stopped with nose…gays； while portraits of the Emperor and the Empress； busts； colours draped with Parisian cunning； gave to the scene an appearance of festivity that looked quite fairy…like in so sombre a region。 As for our gallant host； I never saw such spirits； he is a fine old grey…headed blow…hard of fifty odd； talking English like a native； and combining the frank open…hearted cordiality of a sailor with that graceful winning gaiety peculiar to Frenchmen。 I never saw anything more perfect than the kind； almost fatherly； courtesy with which he welcomed each blooming bevy of maidens that trooped up his ship's side。 About two o'clock we had supper on the main…deck。 I had the honour of taking down Miss Thora； of Bessestad； and somehowthis time； I no longer found myself wandering back in search of the pale face of the old…world Thora； being； I suppose； sufficiently occupied by the soft； gentle eyes of the one beside me。 With the other young ladies I did not make much acquaintance； as I experienced a difficulty in finding befitting remarks on the occasion of being presented to them。 Once or twice； indeed； I hazarded； through their fathers； some little complimentary observations in Latin； but I cannot say that I found that language lend itself readily to the gallantries of the ball…room。 After supper dancing recommenced； and the hilarity of the evening reached its highest pitch when half a dozen sailors； dressed in turbans made of flags （one of them a lady with the face of the tragic muse）； came forward and danced the cancan； with a gravity and decorum that would have greatly edified what Gavarni calls 〃la pudeur municipale。〃
At 3 o'clock A。M。 I returned on board the schooner； and we are all now very busy in making final preparations for departure。 Fitz is rearranging his apotheca
