C 99 ] 
Excepting the white bears, the foxes, 
and the raindeer, with which, as I have 
already obferved, the iiland abounds, 
it is as void of every other kind of ani- 
mals as of the human fpecies. A few 
birds are indeed feen in fummer; but 
thefe are only geefe, ducks, and other 
water-fowl. Nor is the fea that furrounds 
it better flocked ; fo that under fuch a 
dearth of fifh, our failors, who otherwife 
very flriclly attended to the ceremonies 
prefcribed by their religion, could neither 
obferve their Lent, nor other fingle faft- 
days. But had the fea even abounded 
with fifh, they would have been of little 
fervice to them, unprovided as they were 
with every kind of falling-tackle ; unlefs 
neceiTity had likcwife taught them to 
make hooks, lines or nets. 
The whales feldom approach the 
fhore ; but iea-dogs and feals are there in 
great abundance : and hence we need not 
wonder at the Ruffians having formerly 
provided necefTaries and wintered there; 
O 2 for 
