OUR LIFE ON BOARD. 



81 



steward, who dabbled in his trade as a bird-catcher and collector 

 of insects. But it was the same with all of us; by degrees we 

 lost all means of beautifying ourselves, and were obliged to be 

 content with what Nature had given us, and no more. 



After we were dressed, came the serious part of the business ; 

 to wit, eating and drinking, speeches and songs. We tried our 

 best to think that we were living in the midst of civilization, but, 



INTERIOR. DRAWING A ' BOTTLE-NOSE ' IN THE FORE-CABIN. 



despite all the merriment, our thoughts would often fly homewards, 

 and we had a strange feeling in our throats when we drank 

 the health of our dear ones at home. 



The central point in our holiday-making was naturally 

 Christmas, and then the 'Fram' shone like a bride. She was 

 scrubbed from floor to ceiling, her lamps were polished, flags and 

 pennons floated from unexpected places, and Japanese lanterns 

 shed upon us their softened light. Every man appeared in 

 holiday attire and spirits, and what good cheer the vessel could 

 produce was on the board and in the cups. 



VOL. I. G 



