42 LETTERS FROM HIGH LATITUDES. [VI. 



or two, which had run into their holes instead of flying away. 

 They bit and scratched like tiger-cats, and screamed like 

 parrots ; indeed, on a nearer inspection, I am obliged to 

 confess that they assumed the appearance of birds, 1 which 

 may perhaps account for their powers of flight. A slight 

 confusion still remains in my mind as to the real nature 

 of the creatures. 



At about nine o'clock we returned to breakfast ; and the 

 rest of the day was spent in taking leave of our friends, and 

 organizing the baggage-train, which was to start at midnight, 

 under the command of the cook. The cavalcade consisted 

 of eighteen horses, but of these only one-half were laden, 

 two animals being told off to each burthen, which is shifted 

 from the back of the one to that of the other every four hours. 

 The pack-saddles were rude, but serviceable articles, with 

 hooks on either side, on which a pair of oblong little chests 

 were slung ; strips of turf being stuffed beneath to prevent 

 the creature's back being galled. Such of our goods as could 

 not be conveniently stowed away in the chests were fitted on 

 to the top, in whatever manner their size and weight admitted, 

 each pony carrying about 140 lbs. The photographic ap- 

 paratus caused us the greatest trouble, and had to be dis- 

 tributed between two beasts. As was to be expected, the 

 guides who assisted us packed the nitrate of silver bath upside 

 down ; an outrage the nature of which you cannot appreciate. 

 At last everything was pretty well arranged, — guns, powder, 

 shot, tea-kettles, rice, tents, beds, portable soups, etc. all 

 stowed away, — when the desponding Wilson came to me, 

 his chin sweeping the ground, to say — that he very much 

 feared the cook would die of the ride, — that he had never 

 been on horseback in his life, — that as an experiment he had 

 hired a pony that very morning at his own charges, — had 

 been run away with, — but having been caught and brought 

 home by an honest Icelander, was now lying down — that 

 position being the one he found most convenient. 



1 The Puffin (Ale a arctic a). In Icelandic, Soe-papagoie ; In Scotland, 

 Priest ; and in Cornwall, Pope. 



