FOSHEIM'S ACCOUNT. 291 



was curious to come across these little pioneer birds of passage, up 

 here in the midst of the snow- and ice-fields of the polar regions, 

 where there was not a bare patch other than those made by wind 

 and storms. A couple of days later we saw a large flock of Brent 

 geese, which were cackling cheerfully as they flew northward up 

 the sound. In spite of snow and cold their enjoyment at being on 

 the wing was evident, even though their journey was to a land 

 where there was not yet so much as a thawed patch, or a puddle 

 big enough for a goose to put its beak into. 



According to our instructions, we continued our work of sur- 

 veying southward along the east side of the sound. South of the 

 of the islands the land was rather low, but afterwards it merged 

 into a wild mountain country, which continued on towards 

 Baumann Fjord. ' It is ugly here/ said the mate, and in his way 

 he was right. Sheer up from the sea rose perpendicular walls of 

 rock to a height of two thousand feet, with steep ledges, sharp 

 crests, and jagged peaks. Of valleys or shore there was hardly 

 a trace, and apparently but scanty vegetation. All this long 

 distance we never saw a polar ox, though almost daily we made 

 war against the bears. Before we arrived at Norskebugten we had 

 shot four, of which one was a little cub of this year. Its flesh 

 tasted very much like young pork. Although I always find a 

 bear-hunt interesting and exciting, I will only describe one which 

 seems to me a particularly typical example of the Eskimo dogs' 

 ferocity and courage. 



Just after we had passed a perfectly fresh bear-track, the mate 

 shouted forward : ' Bear in towards land ! ' I got out my gun in a 

 hurry, and swung the team inwards, telling them to go for it, and 

 the dogs knew at once what that meant. Off they went like wild- 

 fire ! At first the bear ran straight towards us, but then stopped 

 at some hundred yards' distance, uncertain what sort of beings we 

 were. Manifestly it had its doubts ; it faced about, and then made 

 off till the snow flew. I loosed the connecting lanyard, and the 

 dogs darted off in hot pursuit of poor ' Bamsen ' it was a young 

 bear who now, doubtless, bitterly regretted his untimely curiosity. 

 In the wild race which followed the bear was soon worsted, and 

 the dogs clung on to him like horse-flies, tearing, biting, and 



