466 



NOTES OF A VOYAGE TO 



and a few other annual esculents. In the whole neiglibour- 

 hood there is not the slightest attempt at agriculture ; indeed 

 we only saw one enclosed pasture. This, however, being 

 backed by high rocks, and open to the south, displayed as 

 luxuriant a crop of grass and buttercups as ever adorned an 

 English meadow. 



ISth. — Landed on the Peninsula of Fugelness, on the oppo- 

 site side of the Bay of Hammerfest. It is low and covered 

 with turf, through which the schistose rocks of the district 

 appear. Here, owing to its exposed situation, there are no 

 attempts at gardening. In an old enclosure, formerly a bury- 

 ing ground, I sowed, round the only tomb now remaining, 

 Malcomia maritima, Lupinus Nootkatensis , Esckscholtzia crocea, 

 and Calif ornica, with the stately He rackiim giganteum. Here 

 I also gathered Botryclilum lunaria^ Parnassia palustris, 

 Cochlearia Grwnlandica ? and Carex incurra. 



In proceeding round the bay towards Hammerfest, the coast 

 becomes more rocky, and about midway there are some 

 tolerably high cliffs, on which we gathered Potentilla alpestris, 

 Erigeron unijiorus, Rhodiola rosea, Saxifraga opposit'ifolla, and 

 nivalis, with Cystea fragilis. A Libellula and few specimens of 

 Hipparchia Blandina were captured, and under stones we 

 found Miscodera arctica. In the evening, at the house of the 

 Tollder (chief of the customs,) who has a collection of some 

 of the natural productions of the country, I saw beautiful 

 specimens of the fine Alcgonimn arhoreum and Gorgonia lepa- 

 difera, both of which are figured in De Capell Brook's Travels. 



The wind blowing violently from the north-east, with every 

 prospect of continuance, we reluctantly abandoned an expedi- 

 tion to the North Cape, in company with some French gen- 

 tlemen, who ai'e here for that purpose, but who, having more 

 time to spare, are determined to remain till the weather per- 

 mits their making the excursion. 



19^/^. — Rambled up a large valley among the mountains at 

 the back of Fugleness, with the intention of ascending the 

 highest point. Our way lay through a most desolate track, with 

 a succession of small lakes, and abounding in Salices. From 

 the remains of large birch trees which present themselves at 

 every step, it is evident that this valley was at no distant period 

 extensively wooded. It is difficult to say what has caused the 

 mortality, but in some instances it is evidently the result of 



