chap, xiv ICE FJORD 203 



It commanded the whole of the basin and feeders of Boom- 

 ing and Baldhead Glaciers. At my feet stretched the curious 

 and interesting surface of the main ice-stream, with its 

 swollen and serrated margin rising high above the centre, 

 and resembling nothing so much as the row of finger biscuits 

 surrounding a bowl of trifle. It was most interesting to 

 observe how the glacier was advancing and forcing its way 

 up over its old lateral moraine. The more rapid motion of 

 the upper layers of ice caused the sides of the glacier to 

 overhang in perpendicular cliffs, from the top of which ice- 

 avalanches were perpetually crashing on to the floor of the 

 valley below. This raised and broken edge could be traced 

 for some distance up both sides of the glacier, presenting 

 a marked contrast to the sloping, convex snout of the re- 

 treating Baldhead tributary. This is not the place to discuss 

 the present climatic changes of Spitsbergen, but it may be 

 noted that from this glacier we have evidence that the 

 general advance shown by so many of the Spitsbergen ice- 

 streams does not necessarily prove an intensification of 

 glacial conditions in these latitudes. 



"After descending to the foot of the ridge, I debated 

 whether to recross the Baldhead Glacier or risk the short 

 and easier passage between the two glaciers. Tired and 

 hungry, I decided in favour of the quicker route, and, skirt- 

 ing close round at the foot of the smaller snout, scrambled 

 over the fallen blocks of ice until I was forced to climb on 

 to the old lateral moraine to avoid walking under overhang- 

 ing seracs, threatening to fall at any minute. On the moraine 

 I found a deserted eider's nest. The brood being hatched, 

 I pocketed the down, thinking it might protect some of my 

 bones when the inevitable fall came, without which I had 

 little hope of clearing that execrable moraine. However, 

 after wading the interminable channels on the flat below, I 

 reached Carl and the ponies at three A.M. without mishap. 



