i 9 02] MEALS AND PASTIMES 219 



comes on. Smoking has been allowed on the mess- deck and 

 at all times since we entered winter quarters ; there are few 

 non-smokers, and no one who dislikes the smell of tobacco. 

 After two in the afternoon the men return to work until five ; 

 up to the present there has been enough to keep them going, 

 but if, as is probable, it falls off, I propose to leave their after- 

 noon free ; there is no object in making work. Supper is at 

 five j a few with good appetites make up dishes out of what 

 remains of the tinned meats or seal left over from dinner, but 

 many confine themselves to bread and butter and tea, with 

 perhaps some jam or cheese. Those men who have not been 

 employed outside during the day take their exercise after 

 supper ; there is no constraint, but luckily the men are in- 

 telligent enough to appreciate the advantage of good health 

 and the benefit of a daily walk. There has been a difficulty 

 in this respect with regard to the cooks and stewards, whose 

 duties lie naturally inside the ship ; with a little thought, how- 

 ever, we have been able to arrange a routine by which each 

 has some spare time daily to devote to a walk abroad. In the 

 evening all the men are free, and a glimpse at the mess-deck 

 at such a time leaves the impression that the greatest comfort 

 and contentment reigns throughout. Many have some special 

 work in hand, such as wood-carving, netting, mat- making, &c, 

 which serves to fill in the spare hours ; others play games or 

 read ; whist, draughts, and even chess are popular, and much 

 time is beguiled by a peculiar but simple game called " shove- 

 ha'penny." This pastime needs only a long board with num- 

 bers marked in squares at one end and a halfpenny, which is 

 placed on the edge at the other ; the coin is jerked along the 

 smooth board towards the numbers by striking the palm of 

 the hand against the edge of the board, and the player of 

 course scores the number at which the coin stops; whence 

 this game came I know not, but I think it must bear a strong 

 resemblance to the older pastime called " shovel-board." At 

 any rate at present it affords much amusement and produces 

 shouts of laughter ; tournaments are constantly held in this, 

 as well as in draughts and whist. At ten o'clock hammocks 



