1875 SANDERSON'S HOPE. 31 



lie between Proven and Upernivik. The scenery 

 between these two places is superb ; magnificent cliffs 

 of gneiss rise sheer from the water's edge to a height 

 of 1,000 to 1,200 feet ; the rich colouring of the rocks 

 presented an almost inconceivable richness of hues, 

 and formed a striking contrast to the glaciers and mer 

 de glace. Passing a small settlement picturesquely 

 situated in a little bay on the island of Kasorsoak, of 

 which Sanderson's Hope forms the western headland, 

 two men came out from the land to meet us ; paddling 

 in their kayaks they dexterously picked up the food 

 thrown to them in parcels buoyed up by empty 

 bottles. 



At midnight we were abreast of the noble headland 

 of Sanderson's Hope with its noted ' loomery.' Being 

 desirous of obtaining a supply of birds I stopped the 

 ships for a couple of hours, and sent the boats away ; 

 but the result, as compared with the reported successes 

 of prior visitors, was unsatisfactory, only 122 guillemots 

 being brought to bag by the united endeavours of 

 sportsmen from both ships. The razor-bill, which 

 shared the cliffs at Eitenbenk with the guillemot, was 

 not observed here. As the boats approached thou- 

 sands of birds flew from the cliffs sweeping numbers 

 of eggs off the ledges, which broke as they reached 

 the water ; at this date the young were nearly ready 

 for hatching. In spite of the swell one of the party 

 managed to get on to the rocks, and procured several 

 eggs ; one was taken from underneath the sitting bird, 

 who remonstrated by pecking at the hand of the 

 spoiler. A thick fog setting in obliged me to recall 

 the boats. 



