148 HUNTERS AND HUNTING IN THE ARCTIC 



single observation for fifteen days, was unable 

 to say at what point in the south-eastern 

 archipelago we were. A line of cliffs away to 

 the right, however, appeared to belong to 

 MacKlintok Island, whilst directly before us 

 a large glacier, forming the eastern side of the 

 fjord, argued the proximity of Leigh Smith 

 Island. As we approached, I observed a phe- 

 nomenon which I have frequently noted at 

 Spitzbergen. As far over the sea as eye could 

 reach, a thick mist hung low, whereas in the 

 fjords it was high, cutting in two the mountains 

 and permitting us to see only their bases and 

 summits. As we entered the fjord we were 

 able to see quite clearly to the larboard an 

 immense glacier descending directly from the 

 snowy canopy which covers Leigh Smith Island, 

 as well as the other islands in this archipelago. 

 This glacier sloped right into the sea, presenting 

 an ice face almost one hundred feet high, which 

 became more and more vague as it vanished into 

 the mist to the south-west. Right in front 

 of us a cliff of black basalt, rising almost a 

 thousand feet, broke the glacier. As we passed 

 this cliff we observed streaks of red and yellow 

 snow a common phenomenon in these regions, 

 caused, so it is affirmed, by microscopical 

 weeds which the excrement of the birds 



