64 AN ARCTIC CHRISTMAS. Chap. V. 



Last evening Dr. Walker called me to witness his success 

 with the electrometer. The electric current was so very 

 weak that the gold-leaves only diverged at intervals of four 

 or five seconds. Some hours afterwards it was strong 

 enough to keep them diverged. 



2\st. — Mid-winter day. Out of the arctic regions it is 

 better known as the shortest day. At noon we could just read 

 type similar to the leading article of the ' Times.' Few of 

 us could read more than tAVO or three lines without making 

 our eyes ache. 



27//*. — Our Christmas was a very cheerful, merry one. 

 The men were supplied with several additional articles, such 

 as hams, plum-puddings, preserved gooseberries and apples, 

 nuts, sweetmeats, and Burton ale. After Divine Service they 

 decorated the lower deck with flags, and made an immense 

 display of food. The officers came down with me to see 

 their preparations. We were really astonished ! Their 

 mess-tables were laid out like the counters in a confectioner's 

 shop, with apple and gooseberry tarts, plum and sponge- 

 cakes in pyramids, besides various other unknown purls, 

 cakes, and loaves of all sizes and shapes. We bake all our 

 own bread, and excellent it is. In the background were 

 nicely-browned hams, meat-pies, cheeses, and other substan- 

 tial articles. Rum and water in wine-glasses, and plum-cake 

 were handed to us : we wished them a happy Christmas, 

 and complimented them on their taste and spirit in getting 

 up such a display. Our silken sledge-banners had been 

 borrowed for the occasion, and were regarded with deference 

 and peculiar pride. 



In the evening the officers were enticed down amongst the 

 men again, and at a late hour I was requested, as a great 

 favour, to come down and see how much they were enjoying 

 themselves. I found them in the highest good humour with 

 themselves and all the world. They were perfectly sober, 



