THE BOUNTY SYSTEM 203 



many fat ducks (Bergenten) and enormous numbers 

 of birds' eggs. Reindeer were sometimes shot, and 

 a plant known as " Greenland salad " gathered as a 

 preventive against scurvy. The chief drink was 

 beer, branntwem being reserved for extraordinary 

 occasions. Tea and coffee were also drunk, each 

 man providing his own supply. 



Their amusements when laying to among the ice 

 are graphically described by Kohler. They had 

 gymnastics and trials of strength, and the Germans 

 (wir Teutschen) played many a joke on the 

 Jutlanders, and it was their delight to master those 

 under whose orders they were at the time. " Ich 

 will euch nur sehen, sagte der Kapitan, als wir 

 Teutsche einst recht Munter waren wenn wir 

 wieder ins Warme kommen." 



Finally, when they saw their first whale off 

 Spitsbergen, Kohler says he was so unfortunate as 

 to be in the boat which set out to harpoon it. 

 " Mein Herz klopfte als wir fortrudeten ; ich fing an 

 zu beten, und je naher wir dem Ungeheuer kamen, 

 desto deutlicher horten sein blasen und meine Angst 

 stieg." When they got near the whale got restive 

 and caused some commotion, with the result that it 

 escaped. Kohler openly rejoices at this (Ich war im 

 Herzen froti) although the captain was greatly 

 disappointed with the loss, since he estimated the 

 whale at eight thousand thalers. 



On the whole Kohler's description of the whaling 

 grounds and operations is good. It is only when 

 his personal feelings are concerned that his descrip- 



