140 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [June 



potential becomes very large and the tension is often great 

 enough to discharge the instrument.' 



'June 23. — Our second mid-winter day has come and gone, 

 finding us even more cheerful than the last. We made a great 

 night of it last night ; the warrant officers dined aft, and we 

 had soup made from a real turtle sent to us by our kind friend 

 Mr. Kinsey, of Christchurch, and brought over in the last 

 sledge-load from the "Morning." After this came tinned 

 halibut, roast beef with artichokes, devilled wing of skua as 

 savoury, and the last of our special brand of champagne. On 

 ordinary nights we are now reduced to enamelled plates and 

 mugs, but we still hold in reserve some crockery and glass for 

 these special occasions, and it adds to our cheer to see our 

 table well appointed again. 



1 After dinner we felt we must have some novelty, so some- 

 one suggested a dance. The table was got out of the way, 

 Royds went to the piano, and the rest of us assembled for a 

 set of lancers, one of the most uproarious in which I have 

 ever indulged. Then came cock-fighting and tugs of war, and 

 altogether we had as festive an evening as we have ever spent.' 



'July 3. — Our winter is speeding along in the pleasantest 

 fashion, and all are keeping in good health and spirits. Our 

 puppies of last year are puppies no longer, but have developed 

 into dogs, showing all the unmerciful, bullying traits of 

 character of their parents. In all there are eight survivors 

 of last year's litters: " Blackie," "Nobby," "Toby," and 

 " Violet " are descendants of poor " Nell," " Roger " and 

 "Snowball" of "Blanco," and "Wolf" and "Tin-tacks" of 

 " Vincka." The different families are not at all fond of one 

 another, nor is there any wild attachment between members of 

 the same. However, we have decided they must take care of 

 themselves and settle their own grievances, as, although they 

 may be useful next year, we do not propose to take them on 

 long journeys ; they are therefore allowed to roam about as 

 they please, though kennels are provided for them, and of 

 course they are regularly fed. The result of this freedom is 

 that there are already new families of puppies arriving on the 



