It is perhaps needless to say that this MS. was the translation of
Heine’s poems, of which mention has already been made here repeatedly.
The intention to publish at this time was abandoned, partly because of
the possible effect on the “new book,” i.e., _Prehistoric Europe_.
During this spring James Geikie was also corresponding with Dr Helland
on glacial topics, and had arranged to accompany him to the Färoe
Islands, to study the glacial phenomena there. A start was made at
the end of May, and the two spent a delightful time together, Prof.
Helland’s knowledge of the language being a great help. James Geikie’s
paper on his observations was published a year or two later, and his
note-books contain long descriptions of his experiences, with many
sketches and diagrams. A more informal account is given in a letter to
Mrs Johnston of Crailing Hall:--
I enjoyed my trip very much though I had to rough it more than most
people would care to do. But what I saw was quite enough to make me
forget all discomforts. Perhaps the most striking features of the
Färoe Islands are their sea-cliffs. These range in height from 300
feet to 2000 feet. I sailed in a little boat round a large part of the
coast-line and was very much impressed. The cliffs rise sheer up out
of deep water, seeming in some places almost to overhang. Fancy the
sun shining brightly on a great wall of brown rock 2000 feet high--a
wall which shows an infinite number of little shelves and ledges, and
all these ledges thickly set with sea-birds in myriads, while the air
is filled with them, wheeling and screaming above you, and the water
is alive with them swimming, diving, floating, and capering! The great
Atlantic rollers come smoothly up to the base of the cliffs and sweep
into the caves, only to rush out again with a hoarse roar, and a wild
splash of spray and broken water.
Not very long after his return from the Färoes, at the end of July, his
second son was born.
Several letters from Prof. Ramsay, on the Färoes work and other
subjects, in the course of the summer show the friendly terms upon
which the two were. Thus in announcing that he (Ramsay) had been chosen
President of the British Association for the Swansea meeting in 1880,
he adds:--“And unless you write the Presidential Address for me, I
will take steps to have you dismissed from the Survey!” Unfortunately
for James Geikie, the time during which Ramsay had anything to say upon
Survey matters was fast drawing to a close. A few days later Ramsay
writes in jubilant spirits because their joint work at Gibraltar had
proved correct, although certain borings had seemed at first to cast
doubt upon some of their conclusions. Prof. Ramsay’s feelings in the
matter are expressed as follows:--“Ho ho ho! Ha ha ha! also he he he!”
In the same letter Ramsay speaks of Prof. Penck’s results, saying:--“It
is a grand coup for you.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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