68 



VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. 



August 



yards in width. The flora was surprisingly rich : large 

 patches of Epilobium latifolium were growing on sand- 

 banks in the dry watercourse, its handsome deep pink 

 blossoms appearing somewhat out of keeping with the 

 Arctic surroundings. Eecent traces of reindeer and 

 musk-oxen were very numerous. Had we remained 

 any length of time in the vicinity we should doubtless 

 have obtained a fair supply of game ; as it was, only 



TWIN GLACIER, BUCHANAN SOUND. 



three hares were obtained by the men of the ' Dis- 

 covery.' It being a fine afternoon the ships' companies 

 were allowed to wander over the hills : one of the 

 crew, miscalculating his power of walking in heavy 

 clothing, had to be carried back on a stretcher. A 

 report having spread that musk-oxen were in the 

 vicinity, the appearance on the beach of the men bear- 

 ing their sick comrade gave rise to the impression on 

 board the ships that an animal had been shot. When 



