304 SLEEPING-BAG. [June, 



About nine A.M., the vapours having been greatly dis- 

 pelled, I contrived, by close watching until near two 

 P.M., reading the same object perhaps five or six times, 

 to realize a set of angles. No one but a surveyor can 

 possibly comprehend such labour ; possibly many would 

 not, but take their legal allowance of sleep, much more 

 refreshing to the animal ; to myself it was no loss, in- 

 deed I could enjoy with more satisfaction the small 

 quantity requisite to sustain me, which, as a maximum, 

 may be concentrated into two hours, and very fortunate 

 do I deem myself when such a luxury can be obtained. 

 Our noon latitude was 77 2' N.; forty-eight hours will, 

 I trust, enable us to plant the Union on the terra incog- 

 nita of this new region. 



Shortly after two P.M. I underwent the wriggling ac- 

 tion of contracting myself horizontally into my chrysalis 

 case ; the attempt in a free tent may not be so difficult, 

 but confined to a space of two feet, and fearing to dis- 

 turb others, it exhausts one's energies, and is followed 

 by a sensation of faintness. My own bag had been 

 altered, to suit my restless habits ; the aperture being 

 " a shark's mouth," eighteen inches from the head, the 

 upper portion constituting a complete hood, protecting 

 the crown of the head from side-wind or drippings : by 

 merely closing the mouth of the bag it became a com- 

 plete envelope. 



About five P.M. the word " chocolate" turned up many 

 disappointed faces, so fond are mankind of that intoxi- 

 cating passion sleep ; yet the law, "Out and pack before 

 you breakfast," requires the rolling up of beds and a 

 clean sweep for a comfortable meal. I was myself rather 



