The secluded inhabitants of these solitary isles are very unhealthy, and seem to complain of one general disorder, which is of a phthisical and scrophulous nature, the cause of which evidently seems to be this: the men are exposed to intense cold at the fishing, where they remain twenty-four, thirty, and sometimes forty-eight hours in open boats; get their feet wet: and when they come home have but very sorry cheer to accommodate themselves with; nor is their daily employment sufficiently laborious to prove a healthful exercise. Hence proceed colds, coughs, phthisis pulmonalis, and every thing which renders the frame a complete nest of complicated disorders. The women above the common rank, lead a very sedentary life, and seldom appear out of doors, unless at church, which, probably on account of its great distance from them, they do not often visit. Besides, tea has found its way into these dreary regions, a constant use of which is the well-known enemy of those who lead sedentary lives, and do not take exercise sufficient to promote the necessary secretions. Hence come on relaxation of the solids, indigestion, flatulency, glandular obstructions, hysterics, &c. None of the female sex here appeared so healthy and blooming as those employed in cultivating the ground. During our stay here in both 1806 and 1807, I was asked to visit different sick patients, and found a private infirmary almost in every house. To some of those I hope I gave useful medicines; to others I gave only some simples to satisfy them, as I found they were fast hastening to that “bourn whence no traveller returns.” Medical advice and drugs are at a very exorbitant price here; and such cordials as wine, &c. cannot be procured for love or money. As the Captain was so charitable as to allow me to give medicines gratis to such as were really objects of compassion, I took nothing for my trouble in preparing them, or visiting the sick; knowing, that if God should be pleased to make me an instrument in relieving the distressed, I would be more than amply repaid. April 3. Having got eight men at Balti Sound, we weighed anchor at ten A. M. and sailed out of the north entrance with a fine south-west breeze. For some days we had fine clear frosty weather, during which time no particular occurrence took place. On the 12th, at four P. M. we saw the long narrow island of Jan Mayen, (so called from the name of its discoverer,) bearing north-east, and distant about ten leagues. It lies in about 71° N. Lat. and 8° 15´ E. Long. from Ferro. Vid. Forster’s _Hist. Voy. to the North_, p. 422.