ICE-Hills, a sort of structure or contrivance common upon the river Neva at Petersburg, and which afford a perpetual fund of amusement to the populace. They are constructed in the following manner. A scaffolding is raised upon the river about 30 feet in height, with a landing place on the top, the ascent to which is by a ladder. From this summit a sloping plane of boards, about four yards broad and 30 long, descends to the superficies of the river; it is supported by strong poles gradually decreasing in height, and its sides are defended by a parapet of planks. Upon these boards are laid square masses of ice about four inches thick, which being first smoothed with the axe and laid close to each other, are then sprinkled with water: by these means they coalesce, and, adhering to the boards, immediately form an inclined plane of pure ice. From the bottom of this plane the snow is cleared away for the length of 200 yards, and the breadth of four, upon the level bed of the river; and the sides of this course, as well as the sides and top of the scaffolding, are ornamented with firs and pines. Each person, being provided with
Ice. a sledge, mounts the ladder; and having attained the summit, he seats himself upon his sledge at the upper extremity of the inclined plane, down which he suffers it to glide with considerable rapidity, poising it as he goes down; when the velocity acquired by the descent carries it above 100 yards upon the level ice of the river. At the end of this course, there is usually a similar ice-hill, nearly parallel to the former, which begins where the other ends; so that the person immediately mounts again, and in the same manner glides down the other inclined plane of ice. This diversion he repeats as often as he pleases. The boys also are continually employed in skating down these hills: they glide chiefly upon one skait, as they are able to poise themselves better upon one leg than upon two. These ice-hills exhibit a pleasing appearance upon the river, as well from the trees with which they are ornamented, as from the moving objects which at particular times of the day are descending without intermission.