DIFFERENCES OF TASTE. 119 



until other viands are got ready. Such was our lot 

 in this instance ; a number of small fish, about four 

 inches long, raw and hard frozen, were placed before us, 

 our hosts and guides setting the example in disposing 

 of them. Unwilling to offend their prejudices, we 

 endeavoured to manage a little execution in this line, 

 but found it rather contrary to our tastes, although 

 fortunately entire congelation disguised some of the 

 unpleasant properties attendant on uncooked and 

 uncleaned fish. Some blubber was then brought on 

 and done justice to by all but ourselves, to whom the 

 simple idea was quite enough for a meal. 



This yarang was very much confined ; all the smaller 

 huts have barely sitting height and stretching length, 

 so that one is cramped for room ; and as I was desirous 

 of making magnetic observations, my comrades were so 

 kind as to take up their quarters in another tent for 

 the night. The sea was at this time covered with 

 broken patches of ice, a few spots of water, but no 

 distinct " lanes " visible, and it would of com'se have 

 been unsafe to adventure on it. Although striving 

 as much as possible to gain and impart information, 

 I found my host so stupid, or so apathetic, that the 

 efforts were painfully one-sided; even the detail of 

 preparations and performance with the dipping-needle, 

 generally an object of so much cmiosity and wonder, 



