SNOW-WALL ON THE SHIP. 377 



cold. "Where tlie snow-drifts were deep enougli, square 

 pieces were cut out and brought to the ship. With 

 these a high, w'all was built adjoining the ice-blocks, the 

 space between being filled in with fragments. 



From similar snow-stones a screen was built in front 

 of the ventilator to keep out the cold. At the exit of 

 the back path, which was twelve feet long, and higher 

 than a man's height, we put- the door of the w^heel-house, 

 thus causing the warmth to be sometimes so intense 

 that the snow began to melt and the walls to shrink. 



By the second week of November the cold had 

 increased to a mean daily temperature of from — 2° Fahr. 

 to —13°, reaching a minimum of —16°, a temperature 

 which agreed w ith us in every respect. 



This may be attributed to the force of habit; besides 

 w^hich, the cold was much more easily borne in a still 

 atmosphere. Our bodies required no greater protection 

 than the usual wdnter clothing ; even this was a great 

 deal too w^arm if we were busied in any active w^ork. 



In the cabin we mostly took off our coats, and yet we 

 did not require fifteen pounds of coal a day to heat our 

 Meidinger stove. Indeed, at first, the heat of this stove 

 was our greatest trouble, and it required some experience 

 and great care not to allow the temperature to rise 

 beyond 68° Fahr. 



On the 13th the first large wash was held, and the men 

 were examined by the doctor from head to foot, when 

 none of them showed the least sign of disease. After 

 this proceeding the expedition clothing (coats, trowsers, 

 waistcoats, and woollen underclothing) was given out. 



The next day, the first really quiet Sunday, brought a 

 slight interi'iiption to the monotony of our daily life. 



