ARCTIC ICE-TRAVELS. 479 



it would be as well to have a cook's mate in addition, who would suc- 

 ceed the cook when his term of office had expired, a fresh hand beinc; 

 installed in the capacity of cook's mate. The whole of the tent-fur- 

 niture must be well brushed, so as to get rid of any snow-drift, or 

 condensation, and the tent itself should be well shaken before being 

 stowed on the sledge, which is then packed, and the march begun. 

 The officer takes his observations for time or variation, also the bear- 

 ings of land, tempei-ature, etc., at a regular time before starting. 



After marching for about six hours, halt for twenty minutes for 

 lunch. The spirit-lamp is used to dissolve snow, and the grog, pork, 

 and biscuit, are issued. If the wind is fresh, turn the sledge at rio-ht 

 angles to it, and with sledge-sail to form a lee, sit-down. If very se- 

 vere weather, pitch the tent, and sit inside without any tent-gear, or 

 stop only five minutes for grog and biscuit. When halted for the 

 night, and the tent is pitched, one man, after brushing himself well, 

 goes inside, and receives and places all the gear, robes, knapsacks, 

 sleeping-bags, etc. The cook prepares supper without delay. When 

 all the work is completed the men take off and hang up their mocca- 

 sins or boots and blanket-wrappers, either upon the tent-ropes outside, 

 or on the tent-line inside, according to the weather, brush themselves 

 well, divest themselves of tlieir overalls, and take up their respective 

 places in the tent, the officer always at the head of the tent, the cook 

 and cook's mate nearest the entrance, so that their rising does not dis- 

 turb the rest. Supper consists of warm pemmican, the quantity in 

 each pannikin always being carefully equalized before being served 

 out, then a drink of tea or water, when pipes are lighted and the par- 

 ty compose themselves for their night's rest ; songs and yarns, if not 

 too cold and exhausted, bringing the day's proceedings to a close. 

 Tlie officer, as a rule, takes his observations while supper is being 

 prepared, and before lying down winds up his chronometer and writes 

 his journal. A very good rule is to give directions, for precaution's 

 sake, that the tent-robe is never to be spread until the question has 

 been asked, " Has the chronometer been wound up ? " Before retir- 

 ing, the cook sees every thing in readiness for the morrow's break- 

 fast ; the captain of the sledge serves out the breakfast allowance to 

 him, and sees every thing connected with the sledge secure and safe. 



The tent is made of light, close, unbleached duck, twelve square 

 feet weighing a pound, lined with brown holland across the head, or 

 end opposite the door, up to a height of three feet, and along the 

 sides to a height of two feet. It is spread by means of teut-poles, 

 two (crossed) at each end, and set up with tent-ropes or guys. A 

 window, six inches square, is fitted at the upper end with a flap to 

 trice up or haul down. There should also be a pocket at this end for 

 the use of the officer, in which instruments, etc., might be placed. A 

 cook's pocket at the opposite or door end of the tent is also conven- 

 ient. In very severe weather the cooking has sometimes to be per- 



