172 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Mar. 



magnets. This does not work so well as one could wish, and 

 though the cells are gradually charging I do not like the 

 variations in the current which is effecting this. Dellbridge 

 and I have been going into the matter, but I fear the sucking 

 magnet will never be very satisfactory. To-night we had 

 electric light below for a few hours ; it made our quarters look 

 wonderfully bright and comfortable, and will be the greatest 

 boon if we can only keep it going during the winter ; but 

 besides the dynamo, the cells will need a lot of attention ; one 

 or two are already showing signs of sulphating. 



1 The main hut is now finished and looks quite a palatial 

 residence. The Eschenhagen magnetographs have been in 

 full swing since the term day, March i, thanks to Bernacchi's 

 energy ; there will be much difficulty, he thinks, in maintain- 

 ing an equable temperature for these instruments. I hope it 

 can be overcome to some extent by banking the hut with snow. 



1 March 9. — The young ice forms quickly when it is calm, 

 especially at night, but when the wind springs up it is soon 

 driven out. 



'I was able to get about sufficiently to go rounds and 

 perform our short service. Without Royds and the harmonium 

 the hymns were a difficulty, but we chose the simplest tunes. 

 A calm but dull morning was succeeded by the most glorious 

 afternoon. The sun was warm and bright, and it was pleasant 

 to sit about in its rays. I was sorely tempted to try to walk 

 abroad, but wisdom kept me chained on board. We have 

 now been here a month and a day ; it is odd to think that 

 we expected to be frozen in on arrival, a miscalculation of 

 a whole month ; but what could one suppose from the evidence 

 we then had before us ? In addition to the records of former 

 expeditions to these seas, I find that the " Belgica " ceased to 

 move after March 4 when far to the north of us. The bay is 

 full of young ice and the swell has almost gone ; it appears as if 

 our little corner was at last to be frozen in. To-night the sun 

 sinks behind our western range in a sky of rosy glory, and 

 deep shadows fall across the frozen bay. 



* March 10. — . . . Again a fine bright day, though there 



