16 HUNTERS AND HUNTING IN THE ARCTIC 



the northern coast, the others building them- 

 selves a hut on the southern part of the island. 

 Traversing swamps of sodden cinders in 

 which the foot sank deep, we commenced to 

 climb firm and easy slopes leading to the crater. 

 These slopes are broken by numerous gullies 

 at whose bottom basalt and lava are found. 

 Occasionally one encountered great heaps of 

 shale, similar to those to be met with at Nova 

 Zembla. From a distance I observed a trap, 

 which was manipulated by a weight. Merite 

 was greatly interested in this specimen of a 

 primitive gin. On the summit of a hummock 

 we discovered a second trap destined to capture 

 foxes alive, the working of which was explained 

 to us by our guide. At this point we were 

 able to see the abandoned Austrian station at 

 the foot of the Vogelberg, close to the little 

 bay of Mary Muss. From the distance the 

 small circular huts appeared to be strangely 

 like conservatories. Descending a steep slope, 

 we crossed a stream flowing from the northern 

 lagoon and so reached the station. At the 

 entrance we were rather sulkily accosted by 

 one of the hunters. It transpired that inno- 

 cently enough we had occasioned the trappers 

 intense disappointment. Seeing our colours 

 streaming in the breeze when we anchored, 



