PONCHE A LA SPITZBERG. 241 



avoided all my attempts to get within rifle-sliot 

 of him. 



Before proceeding to the sea with a second 

 load of meat we ate some biscuits, and, as the 

 intense frost had congealed all the water in 

 this high valley, we indulged in a "'^ ponclie a 

 la Momainei^ or rather "i^onclie a la Spitzherg,^' 

 by saturating cupfuls of snow with rum ; and 

 I can strongly recommend that cordial to any 

 one under similar circumstances. 



In this valley I observed some singular 

 conical-shaped masses of tra;p or other Plutonic 

 rock, which had abruptly burst up through 

 the limestone hills. 



We got on board about 4 p.m., and my 

 four men having walked at least twenty miles, 

 ten of which with half a fat stag on each of 

 their backs, I sent a boat's crew of fresh hands 

 to bring down the remainder of the venison. 



The rein-deer ( Cervus Tarandus) abounds in 

 most parts of Spitzbergen, and in every valley 

 which affords any vegetation, a troop of from 

 three to twenty is generally to be met "with. 

 They do not grow to such a large size as the 

 tame rein-deer of Lapland, nor are their horns 

 quite so fine; but they attain to a most ex- 

 traordinary degree of condition. This seems to 



