02 



mingled milk of which they were making cheese ; a loom for th*? 

 weaving of coarse woollen cloth, and a boat for fishing ; in addition to 

 which resources they collect abundance of the eggs of gulls, &c., in the 

 season, and down from the nests of the eider duck. 



We had generally a choice of first-rate harbours for our anchorage at 

 night: on the 19th came-to at Maas Oe or Island, and on the 20th at 

 a place called Axlen, in Bustad Sound ; the latter a very remarkable 

 harbour, the entrance being narrow and shallow (three fathoms), but 

 opening into a spacious basin of such depth that we were obliged to 

 go very close to the shore to find so little as twelve fathoms. We saw 

 no sign of habitation in the neighbourhood, but at the extremity 

 of the bay appeared an opening, as though to an inner basin, 

 which we did not explore. We reached Hammerfest in the evening of 

 the SJst July, and after enjoying of the receipt of letters and news- 

 papers from England, sailed again, southward, on the 24th. We 

 arrived at Tromsoe on the evening of the 26th, and left it again in the 

 afternoon of the following day. Having passed through the whirlpool 

 or rapid called Ry Stromen, it fell calm as the evening advanced, and 

 when we were drifting astern through the effect of a contrary tide, we 

 dropped the kedge anchor in order to hold on till circumstances should 

 again become favourable to our making progress. Seeing just opposite 

 to us a high and picturesque mountain we were tempted by the calm 

 serenity of the evening to try the ascent of it, not knowing till after our 

 return that it was called the Beusjordstind, and the height ascer- 

 tained to be 4000 feet. 



It was eight o'clock in the evening when we lauded, and immediately 

 commenced the ascent. This we at first found to be exceedingly pre- 

 cipitous through a wood, of which many of the trees were prostrate, and 

 in various stages of decay, and a most luxuriant growth of gi-ass, ferns, 

 and flowering plants, among which we climbed principally by means of 

 our hands. After perhaps 1000 feet perpendicular of this laborious 

 work, the ascent became easier ; small scattered trees marked the limit 

 of the wooded region, beyond which the herbage was short, of Alpine 

 character, with many beautiful flowers. The rock was of Mica Schiste 

 with abundance of garnets, but as we appi'oached the summit, granite 

 protruded in huge blocks and masses, among which the ascent was very 

 steep and difficult. Although this mountain is situated three degrees 

 within the Arctic circle, we had accomplished fully 3000 feet of 

 the height before reaching a patch of snow, which is the more remark- 

 able from the circumstance of some being seen at the sea level, and 

 resting upon the raised beaches in the immediate neighbourhood. 

 We had made for the sharpest peak, thinking it the highest, and it 



