ABSTRACT
IN the previous chapter about lodgings on the ice I described rather too briefly the signs by which travellers in snowy or frosty weather are guided to reach their chosen inns. The passage before them traverses such vast, flat spaces that for the most part nothing can be seen except sky, ice, and snow, while, that is, they are exerting themselves in the severity of winter, helped by nimble beasts of burden, to advance along the same path on which in summer great fleets have sailed at high speed before the winds. 1 You should therefore take note that holes are made a short way into the ice and junipers or fir trees are customarily set up in the sea along the route, a furlong apart, so that they may be frozen in as they stand upright. 2 This is chiefly done where close investigation of these roadways has ascertained that the ice is reasonably strong. If there were no such marks, there would be just as much reason for fear and as much danger to life looming among the icy chasms as for unarmed sailors on the high seas among merciless pirates, or for men surrounded by savage monsters in a frightful wilderness. It has therefore been decreed by a very strict law that no one shall alter or remove such marks, except in time of war because of traitors and spies.
Nothing but ice and sky are visible to travellers
In summer fleets sail by the same route
Marks for keeping to the right path
Law that marks should not be removed Precaution against spies
