UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN. 325 



I do not know that I have laid particular stress hith- 

 erto on the excellent salt beef which we have. It is 

 served out on Monday regularly forward and aft for 

 dinner, in addition to the regular diet. It is beyond 

 exception the finest salt beef I have ever eaten. Our 

 process of packing it in snow and soaking it in sea wa- 

 ter, softens it while it entirely removes its saltness, and 

 it is thoroughly enjoyed. To-day our steward surprised 

 us with a delicious potato salad with canned chicken, — 

 a novelty, I undertake to say, never enjoyed before in 

 the Arctic regions after a winter's experience. We 

 have other good things in the shape of ale and porter 

 in barrels. Were I undertaking another cruise of this 

 character I w^ould take three times as much as we 

 brought, at least, and as much more as the vessel could 

 stow. It is beyond all estimable value for cruises of 

 this kind. Hoff's bottled malt extract is no doubt very 

 good in its effect, but from its peculiarly bitter-sweet 

 taste it seems more like a medicine than a beverage. 

 We have had a glass of ale, or a glass of porter, or a 

 bottle of this extract for dinner aft on Wednesdays 

 and Sundays, and forw^ard it has been served out 

 sometimes once a week and sometimes once a fort- 

 night. We made an unpleasant discovery to-day in the 

 shape of fresh dampness on the berth deck. I think 

 that ice has formed between the frames outside of the 

 berths, by the condensation of moisture from the men 

 in sleeping. At all events a drip takes place into the 

 lockers under the berths, which makes it impossible to 

 keep clothing there. At the first of the leak caused 

 by injury to the ship, the water being choked off in 

 the fore peak rose between the frames and flowed over 

 on the berth deck, keeping it w^et, and now" a similar 

 result is threatened. We shall avoid it, however, by 



