254 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [June 



cakes, mostly of home manufacture, but none the less 

 " Christmasy " in appearance. It seems that there has been 

 quite a rivalry amongst the messes with respect to their adorn- 

 ment, and the results which have been achieved with little 

 more than brightly coloured papers, a pair of scissors, and a 

 paste pot are really quite astonishing. On each table stands 

 some grotesque figure or fanciful erection of ice, cunningly 

 lighted up with candles from within and sending forth shafts of 

 sparkling light. 



'At 12.30, when all was ready, I went round in procession 

 with the officers, exchanging greetings for the season and 

 accumulating sweetmeats, cakes, and such dainties, offered 

 by each mess as a tribute of good will, and incidentally an 

 evidence that we possess no inconsiderable amount of con- 

 fectionery talent. Next came the unpacking of a large box 

 of presents provided by the kindly thought of Mrs. Royds, the 

 mother of our first lieutenant, and the distribution of these 

 and other Christmas gifts sent by friends in the Old Country 

 to gladden our winter season. Everyone was remembered, 

 and with all in high spirits the distribution occupied the time 

 with jest and laughter, until we left the men to enjoy their 

 Christmas fare with an extra tot of grog. 



' At six we had our dinner in the wardroom, with the table 

 decorated and the display of all our plate. Starting with turtle 

 soup, we passed on to a generous helping of mutton, and from 

 that to plum pudding, mince pies, and jellies, all washed down 

 with an excellent dry champagne. With a largely assorted 

 dessert of crystallised fruits, almonds and raisins, nuts, &c, 

 came the port and liqueurs, which brought us into good form 

 for the enthusiastic speeches that followed. With such a 

 dinner we agreed that life in the Antarctic Regions was worth 

 living, and those who didn't make speeches felt that they must 

 sing ; and starting with " For he's a jolly good fellow," twice 

 repeated, the evening continued with a regular " sing-song," 

 when everyone, regardless of talent, had to contribute some- 

 thing for the common entertainment. One could not help 

 wondering what would have been the feelings of those 



