chap xi FULMAR VALLEY 161 



When camp was pitched and the day's survey completed 

 we had a great discussion about the route to be followed. 

 We still did not realise that we had come to the wrong 

 glacier, but we knew enough to argue that the pass, at the 

 foot of which we were encamped, would not lead to the east 

 coast at all, but only take us over into the valley (Fulmar 

 Valley) on the other side of Peak Milne-Edwards. Pedersen, 

 however, had related a tradition that this pass leads to 

 Agardh Bay, but now we were come to it we more than ever 

 doubted the accuracy of the information. Ponies could go 

 no farther this way, and we must drag one sledge on our- 

 selves. If with that labour we only reached the next valley 

 we should be fooled, for the ponies (now we were over the 

 river) could drag both sledges round as far as that by way of 

 the Sassendal, and save us the trouble. The decision come to 

 was to climb one of the neighbouring peaks next day, and 

 have a good look round before actually plunging into the 

 difficult area of snow. 



Never had we camped where there was less grazing for 

 the ponies. The moraine itself was apparently almost barren. 

 The hill-side beyond it was plentifully covered with the vege- 

 tation that grows on wet bogs, but with this the ponies would 

 have nothing to do ; with fear and trembling, therefore, we 

 were constrained to permit them to wander each with a 

 stone hobbled at the end of a long rope to his fore-leg. 

 Not that we were afraid of Spits making off on her own 

 account. She was rather inclined to come into the tents 

 and make herself at home, but she always followed Bergen, 

 and his record was bad. He bolted the first day we landed, 

 and he left us in a most informal manner at Bolter Camp. 

 He had probably been ill treated by his late owner, and re- 

 garded the human species with distrust. Of late he had 

 begun to be less hostile, and would even move a step to 

 take a biscuit if quietly offered to him. The taming pro- 



