320 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



human beings in the tropics, and they are so averse to 

 work that a sight of harness will make the whole pack 

 skulk off. 



Though the highest temperature to-day was only 

 plus 12°, the black bulb in vacuo gave its highest read- 

 ing at 103°. (If the ice in which we are so firmly held 

 were only black, how quickly would it melt in a vacu- 

 um !) The black bulb in the sunlight and air gave plus 

 30° as its maximum reading. 



Ajjril 17th, Saturday. — We commenced the day by 

 removing three thermometers from the box on the floe, 

 and substituting three others ; in case of any accident 

 I do not want to lose those which we have read and 

 recorded all winter. Our standard, 4.313, is left in the 

 box for continuous record. During the day the ane- 

 mometer was also removed to the ice, so that we have 

 only the barometers left on board. 



The windmill being completed was mounted to-day 

 on the ice, without sails, and rattled away in fine style. 

 We shall leave it running over Sunday to let all bear- 

 ing parts wear smooth, and Monday place it in position 

 on board ship. It will be tried first with the shifted 

 bilge-pump in the corner of the fire-room hatch, for if 

 it will work that, there is saved the necessity of mak- 

 ing a new pump rig of boiler tubes. 



We took down to-day the forecastle tent awning, 

 letting a flood of daylight down on the berth deck, 

 where it has been so much needed. And to make room 

 for the windmill, the big skin boat baidera was re- 

 moved from the bridge, where it has been all winter, 

 and placed on barrels on the floe. Slowly, piece by 

 piece, we shall remove our winter disfigurements, and 

 gain gradually a ship-shape appearance. 



A very curious occurrence was noticed by me this 



