148 APPENDIX. 



the latter, says, that it was very numerous along the northern 

 shore of Spitzbergen and near the Low Island of Phipps. 

 Seventy were killed near Treurenberg Bay on this expedi- 

 tion (p. 191). They were not in good condition till the 

 middle of August (p. 134). On Captain Buchan's expedition, 

 Admiral Beechey records that the islands about Fair Haven 

 are covered with lichens and other rich pasturage for rein- 

 deer, which are so abundant, " upon Vogel Sang in particu-B 

 lar, that that island supplied us with forty carcasses. They 

 were at this time (the end of June) in such high condition, 

 that the fat upon the loins of some measured from four to 

 six inches, and a carcass, ready for being dressed, weighed 

 two hundred and eighty-five pounds. In August, however, 

 they were so lean, that it ^vas rare to meet with any fat upon 

 them. From the wary disposition and the very keen scent 

 of these animals, we found it extremely difficult to get within 

 gunshot of them, especially from to windward ; and were 

 obliged either to separate into two or three parties, and to 

 harass them until they took to the water, where they were 

 easily overtaken by the boats, or to secrete ourselves behind 

 large stones contiguous to one of their walks, and there wait 

 until they approached. They Avere at this time in pairs, and 

 when one was shot the other would hang over it, and occa- 

 sionally lick it, apparently bemoaning its fate ; and if not 

 immediately killed, would stand three or four shots rather 

 than desert its fallen companion. . . , Their sympathy must 

 indeed have been very strong to have induced them to re- 

 main so long by their wounded ; for if at other times our 

 shots missed, the panic occasioned by the discharge of the 

 guns was so great that they fled in all directions, and there 

 was no chance of getting near them again. "When pressed, 

 they readily took to the water to swim to islands that were 

 three or four miles distant." — Vorjage of Dorothea and Trent, 

 pp. 98-100. 



