i 9 o 3 ] HOCKEY 135 



fishing holes and other outlying stations for work. All these 

 are due to the industry of Hodgson and Barne. 



1 The great game for the season is hockey ; whenever the 

 weather permits all hands join in the keen contests we hold on 

 the floe. The game is played with light bandy-sticks and a 

 hard ball made on board ; it is just as well we have not the 

 heavier sticks, as few rules are observed and figures can be seen 

 flying about with sticks held high above their heads ready to 

 deliver the most murderous blows, back-handed or front, as 

 suits best. There is really no time to consider rules, and 

 although there is the proper organisation of backs and forwards 

 on each side, no one wants to take the part of umpire. 

 Occasionally there is a cry of " Off side ! " but no one pays 

 very much attention. 



1 However, in spite of this, we have very exciting matches. 

 Sometimes the officers play the men, sometimes we divide by 

 an age limit, and sometimes in other ways. To-day it has 

 been " Married and Engaged v. Single," and as the former side 

 lacked numbers we had to include in it those who were 

 accused of being engaged, in spite of protest. The match" was 

 played in a temperature of — 40 , and it was odd to see the 

 players rushing about with clouds of steam about their heads 

 and their helmets sparkling with frost. We played half-an-hour 

 each way, which was quite enough in such weather. We shall, 

 I hope, keep to this capital exercise until the light fails.' 



' April 24. — On Wednesday the sun left us, and darkness 

 is coming on apace ; and so we are entering on the course of 

 our second winter, but withal in the highest spirits, just as 

 happy and contented a community as can be. It would be 

 agreeable to know what is going to happen next year, but 

 otherwise we have no wants. Our routine goes like clock- 

 work ; we eat, sleep, work, and play at regular hours, and are 

 never in lack of employment. Hockey, I fear, must soon 

 cease, for lack of light, but it has been a great diversion, 

 although not unattended with risks, for yesterday I captured a 

 black eye from a ball furiously driven by Royds. 



' Our acetylene plant is now in full swing, and gives us 



