REINDEER in 



parrots cover the surface at every stage. When 

 a shot is fired and echoes among the rocks, the 

 day grows dark as the terrified birds rise and 

 form a cloud which obscures the sun. I think, 

 however, I have never seen so many birds as 

 those congregating on the cliffs of Bear Island. 

 On a certain occasion we were approaching this 

 island in a boat, when guillemots passed directly 

 above in a cloud, covering us with a moisture 

 similar to that which blinded old Tobit ! 



Lowe Sound extends far to the east, almost 

 cutting Spitzbergen in two, as does the ice 

 f j ord farther north. The surrounding mountains 

 are not very elevated, and their shape and 

 regularity call to mind the pyramids of Egypt. 

 Towards Micael Rinders Bay, on the south side 

 and near the western extremity of the Sound, 

 the peaks become higher, forming an immense 

 circle. Each of the valleys in this circle contains 

 a glacier, which meet and present an extended 

 and imposing front to the bay. 



Unfortunately, the beautiful effect of this 

 imposing mass of ice is somewhat marred by the 

 secondary moraines the glaciers have formed. 

 These moraines, composed of mud and the 

 debris of rocks, extend across what would 

 otherwise be an enormous dazzlingly white 

 surface. 



