1 46 SPITSBERGEN chap, x 



whilst the flora of the inland valleys and hills is identical 

 with that of the coast. Nothing, therefore, attracted him to 

 remain with us. He accordingly determined to take the 

 ponies down to meet Gregory at Sassen Bay, and to utilise 

 the boat during our absence for the purpose of visiting 

 Dickson Bay, or such other points on the shore of Ice 

 Fjord as might afford opportunities for his special studies. 

 He undertook either himself to meet us at Sassen Bay in 

 "ten days' time, or to send a boat to await us, if he could 

 hire one from any sloop or at Advent Point. 



Accordingly, in the afternoon he and I set forth with the 

 beasts, whilst Garwood went to climb the North Prong 

 {2172 feet) of the Trident, whence he returned in due time 

 with many photographs and some useful topographical and 

 geological observations. We, meanwhile, waded the ford 

 yet again, and plodded down the valley, going first over 

 the Esker's spongy raised delta, and then along the bog- 

 slopes, always looking out for the abandoned bundles. At 

 last we found them and halted to divide the spoil, part of 

 which I loaded into my rucksack, part left for future use on 

 our return, whilst the remainder, consisting of clothes and 

 the like, was packed with much careful balance and solici- 

 tude, on the backs of the now unresisting beasts. After 

 starting Battye on his farther way, I left him, and retrod 

 the track, bearing a precious load of salt, onions, two bottles 

 of beer, oatmeal, Irish stew, and such like, the burden being 

 made light and the way short by foretasting the pride 

 wherewith I would display such treasures to the admiring 

 Garwood. The deserted camp, with one tent prone, looked 

 forlorn indeed ; there was a note from Garwood detailing 

 his plans, and the sun was shining brightly, but never 

 a pony neighed nor a living thing stirred in the large 

 solitude, save when some fulmar petrel came by — one of 

 the long procession now continually passing up the valley 



