166 SENSATIONS OF COLD. [November, 



portant matters. Many expenditures of the public money, 

 I now perceive, might have been avoided, and space saved 

 for much more important stores. From the proper de- 

 partments at the Admiralty every facility was afforded, 

 but many supplies would, if I again controlled a fitting- 

 out, be entirely expunged. 



How habit changes the feelings ! not clothing, for I 

 have not changed the ordinary suit which I donned on 

 reaching the Orkneys, and even in travelling have merely 

 added the Lievely seal-skin trousers. Not many weeks 

 since, 20 was considered very cold in our tents ; and we 

 were reduced to melt snow to drink, about the 1st of 

 September. Another month, about the 1st of October, 

 I well recollect, being then in jeopardy, and the lead- 

 ers of this Expedition cut off for a time, our anxious 

 prayers were offered for a temperature of zero, or even 

 10, in order to freeze the sea intervening between us 

 and the mainland, and enable us to travel. Even then 

 we did not feel the cold. About the 16th of November 

 I noticed apparent disappointment that the mercury had 

 risen to 15, and on the 17th to 20 "5. One hero, in 

 my mind's eye, appeared to repent of his coming to a 

 climate where he was not to have " constant exercise and 

 training" to aid him in his preparation for his contem- 

 plated inarch in the spring, with a temperature at 50! 

 but I very strongly suspect that my hero, if unfolded, 

 as the clown's baby was, would be found prepared for 

 the worst, sundry rolls of flannel to make the man. 



Eor my own part, I feel the cold, at times acutely ; it 

 varies according to the state of health ; but I fear it not, 

 and must candidly express my wish to experience, in 



