306 



NEW LAND. 



to Hell Gate, where our first station was in ' Exkrementbugten.' The 

 dredging done here was rather remunerative several red algas being 

 found, among other things but it was done under difficulties on account 

 of the very strong current there is in these waters. The following day 

 we made a short excursion up on shore, where it was now summer, 

 notwithstanding that there was still a good deal of snow about. 

 Saxifraya opposilifolia was in profuse bloom. "We saw numerous tracks 

 and traces of various animals, but no game. At eleven at night 

 we struck camp, and after a hard struggle with the violent current in 



SO PAR AND NO FARTHER. 



the sound came up to a point, ' Cape Bonning-Hansen,' where we were 

 met by a strong head wind and high sea, making it impossible to row 

 farther in our heavily laden boat. 



On the evening of July 7 we went northward, and towards morning 

 reached Renbugten, or Reindeer Bay, where, after an unsuccessful reindeer 

 stalk, we camped, then dredged and went some excursions on land. The 

 heat in the tent during the night was so great that we could not sleep, 

 and at half -past two in the morning of July 9 were again under way. 

 We found ourselves obliged to row past the big, most northerly, bay in 

 the sound, where we had thought of staying, as it was still covered with 

 ice. Farther north, too, it was rather difficult to find a camping-place 



