MORSE AND MAHLEMOOT. 463 



The flora here is as extensive as on the Seal Islands, two hun- 

 dred miles to the southward ; but the species of gramma are not 

 near so varied. Indeed, there is very little grass around about. 

 Wherever there is soil it seems to be converted by the abundant 

 moisture into a swale or swamp, over which we travelled as on a 

 quaking water-bed ; but on the rounded hill-tops and ridge-sum- 

 mits wind-driven and frost-splintered shingle makes good walking. 

 Both of these climatic agencies evidently have a permanent iron 

 grip on this island. 



The west end of St. Matthew differs materially from the east. 

 A fantastic weathering of the rocks at Cathedral Point, Hall Isl- 

 and, will strike the eye of a most casual observer as his ship enters 

 the straits going south. This eastern wall of that point looms up 

 from the water like a row of immense cedar-tree trunks. The 

 scaling off of basaltic porphyry and a growth of yellowish-green 

 and red mossy lichens made the effect most real, while a vast bank 

 of fog lying just overhead seemed to shut out from our vision the 

 foliage and branches that should be above. This north cape of 

 Hall Island changes when approached, with every mile's distance, 

 to a new and altogether different profile. 



Our visit at the west end of the island of St. Matthew was, geo- 

 logically speaking, the most interesting experience I have ever 

 had in Alaska. A geologist who may desire to study the great- 

 est variety of igneous forms in situ, within a short and easy radius, 

 can do no better than make his survey here. These rocks are not 

 only varied by mineral colors, together with a fantastic arrange- 

 ment of basalt and porphyry, but are rich and elegant in their tint- 

 ing by the profuse growth of lichens brown, yellow, green, and 

 bronze. 



ATI old Russian record prepared us, in landing, to find bears 

 here, but it did not cause us to be equal to the sight we saw, for 

 we met bears yea, hundreds of them. I was going to say that I 

 saw bears here as I had seen seals to the south, but that, of course, 

 will not do, unless as a mere figure of speech. During the nine 

 days that we were busy in surveying this island, we never were 

 one moment, while on land, out of sight of a bear or bears ; their 

 white forms in the distance always answered to our search, though 

 they ran from our immediate presence with a wild celerity, trav- 

 elling in a swift, shambling gallop, or trotting off like elephants. 

 Whether due to the fact that they were gorged with food, or that 



