26 REPORT ON THE INTRODUCTION OF 



The highest of these will not exceed 1,500 feet, and they form a bleak 

 and rocky coast, which gives way to sandy beaches for 4 or 5 miles only, 

 the rest of the coast being rugged for 35 miles east. Here they recede 

 to the north, gradually merging into hills which form a background to 

 a level stretch of country from one-half to 1 mile wide and about 30 

 miles long, near the center of which stand the reindeer headquarters. 



The hills immediately north of the station rise to a height of 400 or 

 500 feet, some of which are nearly barren, caused probably from the 

 severe winds that prevail in the summer, which, taken in connection 

 with the long spells of rain in that season, seem to have destroyed the 

 vegetation that on the sides of the others has taken deep root. 



Toward the eastern end of the level country the hills gradually 

 diminish in height and recede to the north in graceful waves of rolling 

 uplands for many miles. 



To the east a range of mountains rises more or less abruptly to a 

 height of 1,000 or 2,000 feet, and from the natives I learn that the same 

 character of rough country extends eastward into the interior 50 or 00 

 miles. 



In August last, in accordance with your instructions, I made a trip 

 into the country northeast of the station, and reached a point perhaps 

 10 miles distant. I traveled by water, in an Eskimo oomiak or skin 

 boat, and our course lay through what is known as Grantley Harbor, a 

 body of water or 8 miles long by about 3 wide. It has depth of 

 water sufficient to float a large ship, and opens out from Clarence Bay 

 by an arm 20 or 30 rods wide. This harbor connects on its eastern side 

 with a channel of water but a few rods wide and 3 or 4 miles long, 

 which winds gracefully through hills a hundred feet or more high on 

 both sides, and, judging from appearances, it has an average depth of 

 20 feet or more. 



The channel is remarkable for its gentle curves, and as it winds 

 between the hills with an almost uniform breadth it has more the 

 appearance of a canal carefully cut by the hand of man than being the 

 work of nature. 



At its northern extremity it opens into a basin of water a mile or so 

 wide, and upon the northwest shore we found an excellent camp for 

 the first night out. 



Several times during the clay we mads a landing, and, ascending the 

 top of the embankment, found a thick growth of grasses and flowers, 

 among which moss grew in abundance. The contour of the country to 

 the north was a gently undulating plateau, stretching out as far as the 

 eye could reach. 



The following morning I ascended the hill, at whose base we had 

 camped, for the purpose of obtaining a view from that point. It was 

 about 500 feet to the top, and, although somewhat abrupt, the sides 

 were covered with short willow and alder bushes, grass, and under- 

 growth similar to that found the day before. Flowers were every- 



