DRIFTING TO THE SOUTH. 125 



Christmas Eve there was a heavy fall of snow which 

 buried our house so completely, that in the morning we 

 could walk over the roof as over a flat surface. In the 

 night from the first to the second day of the holiday, 

 showers of rain fell, followed by a south-westerly breeze. 

 Then another whirlwind of snow. The mass of falling 

 snow whirled over the field by the rushing wind was so 

 great, that in the open air we could scarcely keep our 

 eyes open, and in spite of our exertions, it was impossible 

 to keep the front of our house clear. 



In the afternoon, whilst we went for a walk, the steers- 

 men put up the Christmas-tree ; and on our return the 

 lonely coal-hut shone with wonderful brightness. Keep- 

 ing Christmas on a Greenland floe ! Made of pinewood 

 and birchbroom, the tree was artistically put together. 

 For the lights. Dr. Laube had saved some wax candles. 

 Paper-chains and home-baked gingerbread were not want- 

 ing. The men had made a knapsack and a revolver 

 case for the captain; we opened the leaden box of 

 Christmas gifts from Professor Ilochstetter, and the 

 other from the Geological Reichsanstalt, which caused 

 much merriment. Then we had a glass of port-wine, 

 and fell upon the old newspapers in the boxes, and 

 distributed the gifts, which consisted of small musical 

 instruments, such as whistles, Jew's-harps, and trumpets, 

 also little puppets and games of roulette, cracker bonbons, 

 &c. In the evening, chocolate and gingerbread-nuts. 

 " In quiet devotion " (says Dr. Laube in his day-book), 

 "the festival passed by; the thoughts which passed 

 through our minds (they were much alike with all), I 

 will not put down. If this should be the last Christmas 

 we were to see, it was at least bright enough. If, how- 



