PARRY'S SECOND VOYAGE. 137 



attended with a cold thirty degrees under the freezing 

 point, became rather severe. 



The sailors found for themselves a more sober and 

 useful, as well as efficacious remedy against ennui. 

 They established a school, in which the better instructed 

 undertook to revive the knowledge of letters among 

 those who had almost entirely lost the slight tincture 

 that they had once imbibe d. These hardy tars applied 

 themselves to their book with ardent and laudable zeal, 

 and showe 1 a pride in their new attainments like that 

 of little boys in their first class. At Christmas, sixteen 

 well-written copies were produced by those who, two 

 months before, could scarcely form a letter. Amid 

 these varied and pleasing occupations, the shortest day 

 passed over their heads almost unobserved, especially 

 as the sun did not entirely leave them. Captain Lyon 

 never saw a merrier festival than was celebrated on 

 board. 



The first day of the new year is described as being & 

 very severe one in the open air, the thermometer down 

 to 22, and the wind blowing strong Jrorn the N. YV., 

 on which it may be observed, that the effect of a strong 

 breeze on the feelings, even in temperate climates, is 

 well known, but at low temperatures it becomes pain- 

 ful, and almost insupportable. " Thus/' says Parry, 

 " with the thermometer at 55, and no wind stirring, 

 the hands may remain uncovered for ten minutes or a 

 quarter of an hour without inconvenience ; while, with 

 a fresh breeze, and the thermometer nearly as high as 

 zero, few people can keep their hands exposed so long 

 without considerable pain." 



The monotony of the scene was now greatly relieved 

 by a friendly visit from the natives, and an invitation 

 was given to the Esquimaux to repair to the ships, 

 when fifty accepted it with alacrity. Partly walking, 



