228 
A VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 
crossing an estuary, and after stopping sundry lioles in 
the walls with moss, we lit a fire, broiled some deer, 
and, while our clothes dried at the fire we had made, 
we sat and smoked a pipe in comparative comfort. 
The Norwegians make poor attempts at wintering in 
the north ; they are not equal to the difficulties, and of 
late years have given it up as altogether hopeless. 
The reindeer in Spitzbergen have a reputation for 
being tame and almost indifferent to the coming of the 
sportsman. However they may have comported them¬ 
selves in former times we can form no opinion, but with 
the exception of such rare opportunities as the scanty 
cover may afford, or rocky places give the sportsman, 
we found these deer as difficult to approach as the red 
or fallow deer in other parts of Europe. During the 
eighteen days we spent in the pursuit of reindeer the 
first three days went for nothing; after that we suc¬ 
ceeded in killing thirty-six beasties, and our stock ex¬ 
ceeding our requirements, my worthy companion was 
able to make presents to the Norwegians, who seemed 
glad of this accession to their stores so* far away from 
home. 
We landed in quest of geese one day, and on our way 
to the beautiful lakes where they harboured we saw a 
deer, but did not shoot him, fearing to disturb the 
watchful birds we were in search of. We had no sue- 
