HEAD WINDS AND CALMS 333 



them regularly every Saturday until we came into the 

 pack-ice and got seal-meat. We had four sheep left on 

 reaching the Barrier. 



We did wretchedly in October — calms and east winds, 

 nothing but east winds; as regards distance it was the 

 worst month we had had since leaving Norway, not- 

 withstanding that the Frain had been in dry dock, had 

 a clean bottom and a light cargo. When close-hauled 

 with any head sea, we scarcely move; a stiff fair wind 

 is what is wanted if we are to get on. Somebody said 

 we got on so badly because we had thirteen pigs on 

 board; another said it was because we caught so many 

 birds, and I had caught no less than fourteen albatrosses 

 and four Cape pigeons. Altogether there is quite enough 

 of what I will call superstition at sea. One particular 

 bird brings fine weather, another storms ; it is very im- 

 portant to notice which way the whale swims or the 

 dolpliin leaps; the success of seal-hunting depends on 

 whether the first seal is seen ahead or astern, and so on. 

 Enough of that. 



October went out and November came in with a 

 fresh breeze from the south-south-west, so that we 

 did nine and a half knots. This promised well for 

 November, but the promise was scarcely fulfilled. We 

 had northerly wind or southerly wind continually, 

 generally a little to the east of north or south. 

 and I believe I am not saying too much when I 

 state that in the "west wind belt" with an easterly 



