9"] KAYAKS BUILT 65 



of ice, 15 to 20 feet square, and as many of them arc 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. 



