File:Heliesund, a Pass between the Rocks (JW Edy plate 07).jpg

In these ways the traveller is considerably annoyed by large blocks of stone, so as not unfrequently to be obliged to proceed on his hands and knees, or eling to the sides of the rocks ; often encountering a huge slab of smooth stone, where one false step would plunge him into a watery grave, or leave his mangled limbs a repast for the birds of prey which are continually hovering over head, among which the eagle is distinguished, and all prey appears to be his alone.

On the clifts are to be seen the Eyder fowl. In shape and size it is between the duck and goose; the male on the upper part is black mixed with dark green, below the eye it is white and light green, the breast black, under the wings and belly a light gray, the bill and feet of the goose kind; the eggs are green and large. In the winter they take to the ocean. To form the nest the duck plucks the down from her breast to keep her young ones warm; the natives take the down and eggs twice; and now the dam håving plucked herself almost bare, the male siipplies the nest the third time, with his valuable white plumage. When the young leave the nest, the people gather the down a third time, thereby obtaining two sets of eggs and three parcels of down from each pair of birds, without hurting them.