In tho Arctic licgions. 455 



ing, owing to flu' swampiness of the ground I 

 til- mountain and the sea. We had also tin- discom- 

 fort of being tormented the whole way by myriads of 



innsquitoes. The plain was intersected by a winding 

 river, about forty yards broad, which we forded, and 

 on its western side found a thicket of willows, none 

 of which were above seven inches in circumference, 

 and only five or six feet high. At the foot of the 

 mountain were three parallel platforms or terraces, 

 whose heights we estimated at fifty, eighty, and one 

 hundred and thirty feet ; composed of transition slate, 

 the stone of the lowest being of the closest texture. 

 We found tin' task of climbing above the upper ter- 

 races difficult, in consequence of the looseness of the 

 stones, which did not atlbrd a firm footing, but after 

 an hour's labor, we succeeded in reaching the top. 

 The mountain is also composed of slate, but so much 

 weathered Dear the summit, as to appear a mere col- 

 lection of stones. Its height above the sea we esti- 

 mated at eight hundred feet Two or three hardy 

 plants were in flower, at the highest elevation, which 

 we gathered, though they were of the same kind that 

 bad been collected in the lower lands ; and dur- 

 ing the whole march we did not meet with any plant 

 different from the specimens we had already obtained. 

 On aniving at the top of the mountain, we were re- 

 freshed by a strong south wind, which we fondly 



