Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898 edition. Excerpt: ... IV. THE "VICTORIA"--BEAR HUNTING. Ox the 27th of June, in the afternoon, our attention is attracted by the arrival of a vessel coming from the North. It is always a pleasant event to come across other navigators in these distant regions; it makes one feel less lonely and isolated. It is Mr. Pike's "Victoria," commanded by Captain Wilson, who hunts bears and seals on these shores. She casts anchor near the "Virgo." We enter a boat and go to welcome the travellers. Andree obtains from the captain some information as to the state of the ice in the North. I pay a visit to the boat, which, though otherwise plain and rough, is nevertheless fitted up to perfection for the peculiar nature of her expeditions. She contains various objects which are not without interest for me, who am a newcomer to these extraordinary regions, such as skins of bears and various birds, also a live young bear captured at the Norwegian islands, who utters ominous growls and seems to protest energetically against this outrage upon his liberty. Sunday, the 38th of June, was an eventful day, and full of emotions. The "Victoria" left at 9 A. M. for Ice-Fjord, taking with her an enormous parcel of letters with our best wishes for our nearest and dearest. After an early lunch we started for an excursion. Strindberg, Grumberg, Arrhenius, Dr. Ekelund, two engineers, two sailors and myself went off in the steam launch. The weather was superb, the sea calm, the sky a little misty; some pretty cumuli touched the mountains. We turned round Dane's Island and shaped our course towards Smeerenburg. Our little boat goes ahead full speed and gives herself up to a mad race among floating ice-blocks which cover the surface of the bay. The spectacle is marvellous! We are surrounded by...