The Faroe islands lie between 6° 15' and 7° 43' Longi tude West from Greenwich, and between 61° 20' and 62° 25' North Latitude. The group consists of twenty-two is lands, of which seventeen are inhabited. Their appearance, whether when approached in fine or in bad weather, is in conceivably grand, especially from the south-east and west. While the sun approaches the western horizon, and the sea is smooth, with a gently undulating motion, nothing can exceed the sublimity of the scenery. The stupendous mas ses of light and shade, and the varying tints reflected from a thousand fantastic forms, hewn by the hand of nature from piles of rock, many of which soar to the height of 3000 feet, produce an effect beycnd description.
The central island of the group, Stromoe, is likewise the most extensive, and contains the highest mountain. This island stretches (as all the others do) from nearly north west to south-cast, being in length 25 geographical miles, and on an average about 5 in breadth. It is deeply inden ted by bays and creeks, some of which form commodious and safe harbours, particularly that of Westmanshavn, which is fit for the reception of every description of ships. The south-west and west coasts present finely varied and magnificent rock scenery, more especially the west, where, for a distance of about 12 miles, the eye meets continued changes in the forms of the precipices. To enjoy such scenery in perfection, and to give it the fullest effect, one must coast along in a boat at a short distance from the locks. The curious traveller may, in this manner, obtain the greatest enjoyment. Sometimes he may enter a cavern, and, after exploring it till he almost loses the light, may find himself yet at a distance from the place, where the swell meeting the bottom of the abyss recoils with a tre mendous roar. Often, while he is admiring the singular forms of the precipices, the boat passes through a perfo ration, and he finds them detached from the mountain, and standing like huge walls, towers, or castles, surrounded by the sea. On these the sea birds have their nests, and there the hardy fowler fearlessly robs them. On this remarka ble coast, the rocks soar from 1500 to 2000 feet. Each is land has its beauties ; and there is scarcely a promontory or detached rock, that does not present something combi ning singularity with magnificence. Of these, the rock called the Witch's Finger, and the little island called Tindhohn, the one on the east, and the other on the west side of Vaagoe, are perhaps the most remarkable. The
former is detached from the adjoining precipice almost to the bottom. From some points of view, it has the appear ance of a grand square tower, surmounted by a lofty spire; and when the light falls in a particular direction, the re semblances of a door and windows are quite distinct. This was observed by the writer of this article at a distance of five miles. When viewed in that position in which it appears detached from the rock, it is not unlike a huge fin ger pointing upwards. Landt states the height of this peak to be 1200 feet, and we believe that this does not much exceed the truth. The elevation of Tindholm is probably about 500 feet, and its singular appearance is much more striking. On one side, though very steep, it is covered with verdure almost to the summit, which consists of a number of long and slender peaks ranged along the ridge, which terminates on the opposite side a perpendicular face of rock. In crossing the island of Vaagoe towards this rock, its summit is seen in a form bearing a very close si militude to the towers and pinnacles of \Vestminster Ab bey. In some places, there are ranges of columnar rocks ; but, in general, they are not in such situations as to render them of much importance in the scenery. The promon tory of Niepen in Strome, presents a very beautiful range of columns. There are some in Ostcroe, which arc lofty, but from their situation not very striking. Several very curious columnar rocks are to be seen in Suderoe and Myg genxs.
The highest mountain is that called Skelling Fell, or Skielinge Field, which rises very abruptly, terminating in a small platform. It exceeds 3000 feet in height ; but it has not yet been very accurately measured. The frequen cy of fog, which often suddenly envelopes the adventurous traveller, even in fine weather, renders the ascent of the Faroe mountains a very hazardous undertaking. The height of Slatturtind, in Osteroe, is 2825 feet ; and there are several mountains in the same island, which appear equally high.
There is nothing in Faroe which can be called a valley ; the mountains for the most part meeting at the bottom, and having only a small rivulet as a boundary. There are a few lakes, the largest of which is in the island of Vuagoe, be ing about three miles long, and one in breadth. Beyond the upper end of the lakes, there is generally a small ex tent of flat ground.