1853.] OIL AND FAT LAMPS. 233 



as well as inconvenience. Let us suppose that we had 

 started with spirits only, as intended ; but in this case we 

 had a small supply of stearine. 



First act : spirit-lamp defective feeding-pipe falls off 

 (soldered to the side and bottom, instead of top). The 

 alcohol flowing round and below took fire, and de- 

 stroyed the lamp for use. If I had not been present 

 and made a substitute, all the fuel would have been ex- 

 pended. But let us imagine that the tent did take fire, 

 what would be the condition of the party ? First, loss 

 of shelter, and, from the attempt to extinguish the fire, 

 inevitable frost-bites ; the result, loss of members bitten, 

 or life ! But there are other miseries ; without fuel, 

 neither water, tea, nor chocolate to drink, could have 

 been procured ; and thirst at this season, particularly at 

 the commencement, is intensely felt; but had such an 

 accident occurred at the outward limit of a journey, the 

 result is fearful to contemplate ! What then, I may ask, 

 would be the chances in this region for our missing 

 countrymen, if they escaped from their vessels ? Fuel, 

 even in savage life, is requisite. 



Truly these preparatory journeys are valuable ; they 

 point out our wants, and direct us to supply the defi- 

 ciencies. Already each Government stearine-lamp has 

 been replaced by our own ship-made, and a composition 

 formed with two parts of whale oil and one stearine, cast 

 into plates, with wicks included to fit them, supersedes 

 the lamp, so that lighting the fire is simply lighting the 

 candle of some eight inches' diameter. Some for my 

 own sledge were formed from bees-wax and oil. The 

 spirit-lamp for my own sledge was superseded by a cop- 



