98 
A VOYAGE TO SPITZBEBGEN. 
For instance, tlie remarkable rock known by the name 
of Egg Island, which in his time might have formed a 
tolerable shelter for a vessel of good size, is now joined 
to the mountainous shore, and presents an outer sur¬ 
face of about twenty-five feet above the level of high 
water mark. 
We ascended one of the lofty ridges of Beerenberg, 
whose summit at that moment was perfectly free from 
clouds, and the prospect was of surpassing grandeur. 
The sun lit up all its projecting crags, and whenever 
its direct rays fell upon the snow and ice, the mountain 
glistened with iridescent colours. A torrent falling 
from hidden recesses near its summit came down 
in long leaps, or tumbled amongst the projecting 
crags, and as it came it froze into rigid icicles; the 
sunbeams falling on these cascades caused them to 
glitter and sparkle again. We had never contemplated 
anything so fairy-like, and at the same time so weird¬ 
looking. We had a long ten-hour walk, and were 
rewarded by the discovery of a hitherto unnoticed 
crater, whose -position we carefully noted. The place 
was blocked with scoria, which was evidently of 
recent formation. 
Returning to the boat, we found our men in a state 
of great excitement; they had returned from the chase 
of a little fox, which had occupied a good part of their 
