CHRISTMAS 339 



have to be very careful to hold the line quite tight, even 

 if the bird flies towards you, otherwise it will easily fall 

 off. A bird may be pulled half-way in several times, and 

 will immediately take the bait again. 



On the night of December 11 an unusually beautiful 

 aurora was seen ; it lasted over an hour, and moved in a 

 direction from west to east. 



On the 14th all the white paint was washed; the 

 temperature was 43° F., and we were in shirt-sleeves. 



For a whole week before Christmas the cook was 

 busy baking Christmas cakes. I am bound to say he is 

 industrious; and the day before Christmas Eve one of 

 the little pigs, named Tulla, was killed. The swineherd, 

 A. Olsen, whose special favourite this pig was, had to 

 keep away during the operation, that we might not 

 witness his emotion. 



Early on the morning of Christmas Eve we saw the 

 three first icebergs ; there was an absolute calm all day, 

 with misty air. 



To keep Christmas the engine was stopped at 5 p.m., 

 and then all hands came to dinner. Unfortunately we 

 had no gramophone to sing to us, as in 1910; as a 

 substitute the " orchestra " played " Glade Jul. hellige 

 Jul," when all were seated. The orchestra was com- 

 posed of Beck on the violin, Sundbeck on the mandolin, 

 and the undersigned on the flute. I puffed out my 

 cheeks as much as I could, and that i^ not saying a 

 little, so that the others might see how proficient I was. 



