220 THE VOYAGE OF THE ' DISCOVERY ' [April 



are slung, and soon all are in bed and asleep ; only one or two 

 sleep in the daytime, and perhaps in consequence all sleep well 

 at night. There is no doubt that hammocks are far prefer- 

 able to the bunks at one time suggested for the men ; the 

 large clear space which is left when the hammocks are stowed 

 for the day is alone sufficient to prove this, but it is also certain 

 that a hammock is drier and more snug than a bunk would be 

 under our present conditions of life.' 



Later in the year, on July i8, I note : ' During the darkest 

 days, when work was slack, nothing was done by the men after 

 their dinner, and I do not think anything is gained by making 

 work ; now that preparation for sledging has commenced, how- 

 ever, there is plenty to be done and perhaps it is better to have 

 such employment. Entertainments have been few and far 

 between, but have counted for something, and Hodgson, 

 Ferrar, and others have given little scientific expositions on 

 their special subjects which have proved very popular. It 

 was a very usual thing in the old Northern expeditions to hold 

 classes for school amongst the men, but in those days many 

 could not read or write ; with these accomplishments men are 

 able to amuse themselves, as we have proved, and the officers 

 have had the more time for their own in consequence. I have 

 endeavoured to suit everything to the requirement of the 

 moment, and was prepared if monotony and dulness crept in 

 to attempt to dispel them, but there has been no necessity ; 

 laughter and good cheer accompany warmth and comfort in 

 the crew space as well as aft in the wardroom, and all in all a 

 brighter or more contented company than ours it would be 

 difficult to conceive.' 



' Reading on the mess-deck is of a very desultory character ; 

 Arctic books of travel are of course much sought after, simple 

 and popular histories are frequently read ; especially in request 

 are such books as " Fights for the Flag," " Deeds that Won the 

 Empire," and stories of the sea are much appreciated also. 

 Novels are not very popular, though Dickens and Marryat 

 find readers ; old magazines seem to go the round many times 

 and become much thumbed. Books of a quite different 



