THE RETURN OF DAYLIGHT. 263 



uncomfortable for sleeping. The forward bulkhead of 

 Chipp's room and my room is constantly covered with 

 ice, which, when the rooms get warm, thaws and drips 

 on the deck, but as it is either wiped up or freezes again 

 we suffer no discomfort. Our beds, being in the after 

 part of the rooms and in-board, are perfectly dry. Such 

 moisture as condenses on the ceiling runs down the 

 curve of the turtle-back, lodges on the bulwark book- 

 shelf, and is occasionally chopped out with a hatchet. 

 But these are tritles, and I am as comfortable as possi- 

 ble. With good health, good appetite, and now enough 

 sleep, I feel as if I could endure these small privations 

 for an indefinitely long period of time. But I am con- 

 siderably worried about the damp condition of the 

 men's quarters. I see no bad effect yet upon their 

 health, and as they are bright and cheerful, the dis- 

 comfort does not affect their spirits ; but I know the 

 conditions are unfavorable to proper health, and I am 

 anxious as to the result. We can hardly look for mild 

 weather until April, and that is five weeks ofi' yet. 



It is pleasant to record one favorable thing, and that 

 is, a reduction in the coal expenditure of fifty per cent, 

 as compared with last week. Our expenditure last week 

 was 1,02 If pounds, and this week is 564f . At one p. m. 

 rearl divine service in the cabin. 



February 23d, Monday. — Washington's birthday 

 having fallen on Sunday this year, the celebration of it 

 was deferred until to-day. At sunrise we dressed ship 

 with American ensigns at the mast-heads and flag-staff, 

 and the Union Jack forward. There is no fear of 

 contradiction when I say that this was the first time 

 Washington's birthday was celebrated in this part of 

 the world. Beyond flag-hoisting ^^e made no pretense 

 of keeping holiday. There is so much absolutely neces- 



