CHAP. V.] HEALTH. 289 



crew ; and I was much gratified to learn from 

 Doctor Donovan's report that, with the excep- 

 tion of the three on the sick list, who were 

 themselves improving, the rest were in a fair 

 state of health, notwithstanding the lameness 

 which still, though without pain, oppressed some 

 of them. To occupy the crew they were de- 

 sired to remove the mounds and other irregular 

 heaps of ice round the ship, and to dig down 

 below the bows. The forefoot being thus par- 

 tially cleared was found to be much worn away, 

 and judging from the state of the bolts, was 

 considered to have received considerable injury. 

 The ice which imbedded the starboard bow was, 

 therefore, quickly cleared away ; and on a nearer 

 inspection, the carpenter recommended cutting 

 away the protruding part of one bolt to prevent its 

 catching against the ice, and at the same time 

 suggested the propriety of placing some iron 

 plates over that portion of the injured part which 

 was out of the water. By evening this was 

 accomplished ; two more plates, three feet four 

 inches long, and nine inches wide, being secured 

 with eighteen iron deck spike nails on the fore- 

 foot, immediately beneath the iron sheathing of 

 the bow, which was all that, under existing cir- 

 cumstances, could be done. The keel could be 

 just felt at the length of an extended saw under 

 water ; and the carpenter was always of opinion 



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