62 BIRDS OF RUSSIAN LAPLAND 



the mainland on the opposite side of the Sound ; for while the latter 

 is chiefly composed of granite, the former is of a dark coloured schist, 

 bedded in nearly horizontal layers, what slight tilt there is being to- 

 wards the mainland. This stratification is clearly shown in Plate 43. 

 The greater part of the outer coast-line consists of cliffs rising 500 to 

 600 feet above the sea ; but a landing can be effected on most of that 

 bordering the Sound where the ground rises in four terraces towards 

 the interior. A few patches of sallow and dwarf birch three to four feet 

 high may be found growing on the southern slopes and valleys ; but 

 otherwise the island is destitute of trees or bushes. The interior is a 

 high tableland consisting of rounded hills, some of them rising to 

 800 and 1000 feet, scantily covered with reindeer-moss, lichen, and 

 the creeping birch ; and broad valleys between clothed with a certain 

 amount of coarse grass, lichen, &c., very difficult to describe as her- 

 bage from an English point of view. Yet the island supports large 

 herds of reindeer, in charge of whom were a few Lapps living in 

 wretched little tents near the shore. Both hills and valleys are 

 plentifully sprinkled with erratics of all sizes, many of them of granite. 

 The only low land on the island is to be found at the south-east end, 

 and forms one side of the bay and harbour. It consists of an interest- 

 ing series of raised beaches, their edges formed of great masses of 

 water-worn boulders, stretching sometimes for more than half a mile. 

 Parts of the lower land are covered with something which may be 

 almost called " grass," but this is largely due to the energy and care 

 of the Norwegian and his sons who have manured it for years, thus 

 obtaining a supply of hay for their twelve cows during the winter. 

 The man also owns a number of the reindeer which we saw on the 

 higher land. 



On an Admiralty chart is shown a large lake described in the 

 Arctic Pilot, p. 87, as over a mile long, and two-thirds of a mile 

 wide. I walked miles to find that lake. On May 28 th we found no 

 trace of lake or tarn in the interior, but I have now no doubt we 

 walked over the latter on the snow without knowing it. On June 29th 



