3SS Nulices respecting New Books. 



we returned to the upper deck, where I personally inspected I lie 

 men ; after which, they were scut out to walli on shore when the 

 weather would permit, till noon, when they returned on board to 

 their dinner. When the dav was too inclement for them to take 

 this exercise, they were ordered to run round and round the deck, 

 keeping step to a tune on the organ, or, not unfrequently, to a 

 song of their own singing. Among the men were a few who did 

 not at first quite like this systematic nuuie of taking exercise ; 

 but when they found that no plea, except that of illness, was ad- 

 mitted as an excuse, they not only willini^ly and cheerfully com- 

 plied, but made it the occasion of much humour and frolic among 

 themselves. 



* The officers, who dined at two o'clock, were also in the habit 

 of occupying one or two hours in the middle of the day in ram- 

 bling on shore, even in our darkest period, except when a fresh 

 wind and a heaw snow drift confined them within the housing 

 of the shijjs. It may be well imagined that at this period there 

 was but little to be met with in our walks on shore, which could 

 either amuse or interest us. The necessity of not exceeding the 

 limited distance of one or two miles, lest a snow-drift, which of- 

 ten rises very suddenly, should prevent our return, added consi- 

 derably to the dull and tedious monotony which, day after day, 

 presented itself. To the southward was the sea, covered with 

 one unbroken surface of ice, uniform in its dazzling whiteness, 

 except that, in some parts, a few hummocks were seen thrown 

 up somewhat above the general level. Nor did the land offer 

 much greater variety, being almost entirely covered with snow, 

 except here and there a bvovvn patch of bare ground in some ex- 

 posed situations, where the wind had not allowed the snow to 

 remain. When viewed from the summit of the neighbouring hills, 

 on one of those calm clear days, which not unfrequently occurred 

 during the winter, the scene was such as to induce contempla- 

 tions, which had, perhaps, more of melancholy than of any other 

 feeling. Not an object was to be seen on which the eye could 

 long rest with |)leasure, unless when directed to the spot where 

 the ships lay, and where our little colony was planted. The 

 smoke which there issued from the several fires, affording a cer- 

 tain indication cf the presence of man, gave a partial cheerfulness 

 to this part of the prospect; and the sound of voices, which du- 

 ring the cold weather could be heard at a much greater distance 

 than usual, served now and then to break the silence which reign- 

 ed around us, — a silence far different from that peaceable com- 

 posure which characterizes the landscape of a cultivated country ; 

 it was the death-like stillness of the most dreary desolation, and 

 the total absence of animated existence. Such, indeed, was the 

 want of objects to afford relief to the eye, or amusement to the 



mind. 



