318 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEAXNETTE. 



Once more are my eyes gladdened by seeing the yel- 

 low top of the poop. We went to work to-day and 

 removed the thick coat of snow which has made it seem 

 all winter like the effect of an avalanche, and the 

 change is more than pleasing. The large amount of 

 dirt, ashes, empty cans, etc., which was alongside the 

 ship to port, was also removed to-day, a faint, disagree- 

 able odor arising from it, warning me how objection- 

 able it might become a month from now. We are 

 slowly but surely cleaning up, and becoming more like 

 a ship than a frozen habitation. 



Our bear sausao-e-balls were tried at breakfast to-dav 

 and pronounced good, though hardly seasoned enough. 

 That is a fault easily remedied, however. 



Sounded at noon in thirty-three fathoms, a drift to 

 the N. W. being indicated by the lead line. The seal 

 kept a breathing hole open, but three and a half inches 

 of ice formed outside of it. 



April l^th, Friday. — We find that removing the 

 snow from the poop, thus uncovering the yellow-painted 

 canvas, presents a surface which attracts and absorbs 

 the heat of the sun's rays, and by radiation upward 

 affects the readings of our thermometers. Accord- 

 ingly (though the uncertainty of the ice makes their 

 situation risky) the box containing them is removed to 

 the floe, and secured against two upright stakes driven 

 in the ice. The black bulb in vacuo is also removed, 

 and the anemometer will follow. I shall hope now that 

 no sudden smash-up of the ice will involve a loss. I 

 concluded to-day to move out the secretary bureau in 

 my room, and clear out the accumulation of ice from 

 behind it. The drawers had long since become so 

 swollen from the dampness as not to stir ; and though 1 

 had the carpenter plane them down considerably, tliey 



