chap xi FULMAR VALLEY 165 



curve and the variety thus introduced by perspective. The 

 last view backwards, from the corner of Fulmar Valley, 

 embracing the whole extent of the Sassendal, was dignified 

 and large. At the corner an intrusive sheet of igneous rock, 

 cutting a little crookedly through the beds along the east 

 side of Fulmar Valley, introduced a slight novelty into the 

 mountain architecture. 



It was a relief to find a big river emerging from Fulmar 

 Valley, for it proved that this was no mere short gorge 

 leading steeply up to a high snow-pass or plateau. In fact, the 

 Sassendal's river above the junction became relatively small, 

 and flowed so smoothly that the opposite hill was reflected 

 from its waters, a new thing to see in this island of torrents. 

 It drains only the Rabot Glacier, a large one indeed, but 

 glaciers do not here supply torrents so copious as those 

 which at this time are filled by the meltings of the lower 

 snows and the oozings of boggy hill-sides. Below the glacier's 

 snout was still a huge ice-foot a mile or more wide and about 

 three miles long, the most considerable example of frozen 

 snow-bog we had yet beheld. A fairly wide rim of muddy 

 rather than rocky moraine intervened between the clear ice 

 of the glacier and this ice-foot. As the corner of the Fulmar 

 Valley was approached the topography of the Rabot Glacier 

 became better apparent, and two large tributaries were dis- 

 tinguishable coming in round corners from the north, where 

 a great neve area must be hidden ; but I was in no condition 

 of mind to heed closely what might be the topography thither- 

 ward, for the moments of turning the wide corner were 

 moments of suspense. 



The chief object of our journey was to investigate a 

 complete belt of country across Spitsbergen from sea to sea. 

 Unless we crossed the island ourselves, this could not be 

 accomplished. If it were accomplished, we might consider 

 ourselves successful. If it were not accomplished, any 



