ICE FIORD. 287 



with heavy sleety rain. We beat up the fiord 

 in the teeth of this, and anchored in a shel 

 tered bay in the evening of the 2nd. 



The sporting season seemed to be about 

 come to an end ; but we were now obliged to 

 stop here for a few days to fill the water tanks, 

 and gather firewood enough for the return 

 voyage. There is no danger in remaining here 

 for at least a week or two to come, as this is 

 said to be the last harbour in Spitzbergen 

 which remains open. The reason for this is 

 that the stream coming round from the east 

 here encounters that portion of the Arctic 

 current which sweeps round the north-west 

 corner of Spitzbergen, and runs through the 

 channel between Prince Charles Island and 

 the mainland. 



Immense flights of geese, both of the grey 

 and brent varieties, winging their way to the 

 south, warn us, however, that it is nearly time 

 to leave the regions of the ice. 



In the numerous fine valleys entering from 

 Ice Fiord, we found such quantities of rein 

 deer that we might have loaded the ship with 

 them, if we had been, in the language of 

 &quot; Bell s Life,&quot; &quot;gluttons &quot; for that description 

 of sport ; but, as we had more venison on 



