96 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. IV. 



dealt out to the men, and while judicious in qua- 

 lity, abundant in quantity, and at the same time 

 economically administered, gave satisfaction to all. 

 Both men and officers were fully aware of the neces- 

 sity there was to secure a supply for the winter, 

 and for the following season. But Parry, with 

 right feeling and judgment, and, it may be added, 

 with a knowledge of human nature, in order to 

 obviate any approach to murmuring or despondency, 

 adopted a measure admirably calculated for pre- 

 venting them. 



" Under circumstances of leisure and inactivity, such as 

 we were now placed in, and with every prospect of its con- 

 tinuance for a very large portion of the year, I was desirous 

 of finding some amusement for the men during this long 

 and tedious interval. I proposed, therefore, to the officers 

 to get up a play occasionally on board the Hecla, as the 

 readiest means of preserving among our crews that cheer- 

 fulness and good humour which had hitherto subsisted. 

 In this proposal I was readily seconded by the officers of 

 both ships ; and Lieutenant Beechey having been duly 

 elected as stage-manager, our first performance was fixed 

 for the 5th of November, to the great delight of the ships' 

 companies. In these amusements I gladly took a part 

 myself, considering that an example of cheerfulness, by 

 giving a direct countenance to every thing that could con- 

 tribute to it, was not the least essential part of my duty, 

 under the peculiar circumstances in which we were placed. 



" In order still further to promote good humour among 

 ourselves, as well as to furnish amusing occupation, during 

 the hours of constant darkness, we set on foot a weekly 

 newspaper, which was to be called the North Georgia 

 Gazette and Winter Chronicle, and of which Captain Sabine 



