222 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [April 



found that the sHces were precisely similar. As a consequence 

 I could express my opinion of the complaint and its maker 

 with the utmost freedom, and proceeded to do so. That 

 officers and men should mess apart, and that the officers 

 should have the privacy of their cabins for their work, &c., is 

 all very right and proper, and marks a distinction which is in 

 the best interests of discipline ; but in other respects it is an 

 advantage on such an expedition as ours that all should share 

 the same hardships, and, as far as possible, live the same lives. 

 My rule does not of course apply to luxuries sent by officers' 

 friends, to wines, or to a few delicate but indigestible trifles 

 by which we increase the wardroom fare on the rare 

 occasions when we have a special dinner ; it is only a rule for 

 ordinary circumstances, and one which will receive great 

 extensions when we come to the hard sledging work that is 

 before us, for then officers and men must live and work alike in 

 every respect. 



' From ten to two the officers have a good round interval 

 for the routine work of the day ; at two we have tea, the actual 

 beverage being accompanied with jam, cakes, and toast. The 

 latter is made at our own fire ; the bread is cut off in huge 

 chunks, and numerous patent toasting forks are brought into 

 action. The toast made, it is spread thickly with butter until 

 it is a sopping, dripping mass, suitable to nothing but a robust 

 appetite ; then the meal and the arguments begin, the latter 

 being pursued to such lengths that the clock usually shows 

 three before we break up. On the whole I think we all find 

 this the most enjoyable meal of the day. In the afternoon 

 those who have not been out already, start on their daily 

 exercise ; the rest melt away to their various tasks, self-imposed 

 or otherwise, and it is not until 6 p.m. that we all meet again 

 for dinner. 



' This is the biggest and most formal meal of the day ; 

 each officer takes it in turn to be president for a week at a 

 time, and during his term of office sits at the head of the 

 table. Although we do not dress, we come as near to it as we 

 can with a general tidy-up of costume ; all are supposed to be 



