Feb. 1858. RETURN OF DA YLIGHT. 69 



■1,0th. — Our messmate Pussy is unwell, and won't eat ; in 

 vain has Hobson tempted her with raw seal's flesh, pre- 

 served salmon, preserved milk, &c. ; at length castor-oil was 

 forcibly administered. Puss is a great favourite. Our finest 

 dog, Sultan, is also sick, and his coat is in bad order ; 

 blubber has been prescribed for him ; — and poor old Mary 

 has fits, not uncommon after the long winter. Petersen 

 immediately ordered her to be bled by slitting her ear ; but 

 Christian, in his fright and haste, for Mary's teeth are sharp, 

 cropped the tip of it off. These are our only medical cases. 

 A dovekie, in its white winter plumage, and two seals have 

 been seen lately. 



15/^ Feb.— Position, 71 38' N., 6i° 31' W. The return- 

 ing daylight cheers us up wonderfully — not that we were 

 suffering, either mentally or bodily, — but the change is 

 most agreeable, and we can take much longer walks than 

 were possible during the dark period. The men have been 

 supplied with muskets, and go out sporting as ardently as 

 schoolboys. I took a long walk towards one of our iceberg 

 companions, but could not quite reach it as weak ice inter- 

 vened, each step producing an undulation ; finding the point 

 of my knife went through it with but very slight resistance, I 

 gave up the attempt and turned back, the ship's masts being 

 then scarcely visible in the distance \ almost the whole of the 

 intervening ice was of this winter's growth, and in many 

 places much crushed up. 



Daylight reveals to us evidences of vast ice movements 

 having taken place during the dark months when we fancied 

 all was still and quiet ; and we now see how greatly we have 

 been favoured, what innumerable chances of destruction we 

 have unconsciously escaped ! A few days ago the ice 

 suddenly cracked within ten yards of the ship, and gave her 

 such a smart shock that every one rushed on deck with 

 astonishing alacrity. One of these sudden disruptions 



