itt] KAYAKS BUILT be 
of ice, 15 to 20 feet square, and as many of them are glacier 
ice we find them most useful for our drinking water. 
One of the problems of our spring journey along the coast 
is how we are going to get back if the ice goes out, or even 
get over the big lanes that are sure to open in the spring, so I 
have decided to build two kayaks, by making canvas boats to fit 
round the sledges; these can be carried on the sledges when 
travelling over the ice and the sledge fitted in them when cross- 
ing open water. 
April 17.—The first kayak was finished last Thursday and 
the canvas dressed with hot blubber, but owing to a week of 
winds we had not been able to try her until to-day. She proved 
a great success. I made the first cruise in her along the north 
shore, using a bamboo as a paddle; she was not at all crank 
and carried me easily. We will build another, so that by lash- 
ing the two together we should have a very seaworthy craft. 
May 2.—A lovely day, and as the second kayak was ready 
we tried her. I have given her more freeboard than the last, and 
she is, if anything, more seaworthy. 
The temperature, which had been steadily dropping all last 
month, is now at about — 7° F., very pleasant in calm weather, 
but in the winds most of us have had our faces frostbitten. 
It is wonderful how quickly the time is passing. I suppose 
it is our regular routine, and the fact of all having plenty to do. 
Levick is photographer, microbiologist, and stores officer. 
His medical duties have been nil, with the exception of stopping 
one of my teeth, a most successful operation; but as he had 
been flensing a seal a few days before, his fingers tasted strongly 
of blubber! 
Priestley’s geology keeps him wandering on the top or on 
the slopes of Cape Adare, and he certainly gets more exercise 
than any of us. 
He is also meteorologist, and when he does have any spare 
moments is out with the trawl or fish trap. 
I am doing a survey of Cape Adare and the magnetic 
observations. 
Abbott is carpenter and has the building of the kayaks. 
Browning is assistant meteorologist and his special care is 
the acetylene gas plant, a thankless task, as any escape of gas 
or bad light brings a certain amount of criticism. 
VOL. 1I—5 
