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61 



east of Zetland, and which was described by Dr. Gray under the name 

 of Flahellum Macandrei. The principal shells in addition to those 

 above-named, were Yoldia lucida and Area raridentata. The wind 

 increasing so as to be too strong for deep sea dredging, we ran up Por- 

 sauger Fiord, and anchored for the night in a bay on the west side of it. 

 On the 17th, after attempting to dredge, without success, on account of 

 the strong wind, we anchored about noon under an island called 

 the Great Tamsoe, the proprietor of which immediately came on board 

 to invite us ashore and to his house. The lady was Scotch but had left 

 her country at an early age, and there was a numerous family, including 

 grandchildren residing in this remote region, surrounded by the com- 

 forts of civilized life, and as well dressed as the better classes generally 

 are in the large cities of Europe. Having been told that there was a 

 remarakbly fine breed of reindeer on this island with four fingers thick- 

 ness of fat upon them, I commissioned ray mate to endeavour to 

 purchase one. He accordingly landed, accompanied by my son, (Mr. 

 Barrett being indisposed,) and they shortly returned in a state of great 

 excitement, particularly the youngster, to say that they had agreed 

 to give six dollars for a reindeer, and might select any one they liked 

 from the herd, but must shoot it themselves, and had accordingly come 

 to fetch the rifle. At the mention of deer shooting Mr. Barrett thought 

 himself better, and made one of the party, which landed in high glee, but 

 after an absence of two or three hours returned somewhat crestfallen 

 and bringing with them a live sheep, but a poor substitute for the fat 

 reindeer, being so lean that after it was killed and the skin removed, my 

 skipper remarked how well it would serve for a masthead lanthorn. 

 It appeared that in their hurry they had taken pistol balls by mistake, 

 which of course did not fit the rifle, and the consequence was, that after 

 a walk of several miles and a fatiguing chase, they were unable to bring 

 down a reindeer, and gave two dollars for the sheep rather than return 

 empty-handed. 



We did not meet with any favourable ground for dredging in the 

 Porsanger Fiord. On the 18th we saw, for the first and only time, a 

 Pussian vessel, many of which were in the habit of frequenting the 

 harboui's and fishing grounds of these parts when the sea was open to 

 them. The one in question kept close along shore on the further side 

 of the fiord from us, probably not much liking our appearance. We 

 anchored for the night in Mageroe Sound, where, having some traffic 

 with the Finns for the purchase of a few provisions, we had an oppor- 

 tunity of viewing the interior of one of their dwellings, which, though 

 sufficiently contracted and not over clean, shewed signs of comparative 

 wealili. Their possessions consisted of cows, goats, and ewes, from the 

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