258 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [July 



drying of clothes is now done in the living-spaces on board. 

 A drying-room would be an excellent thing to have on a polar 

 expedition, and had the space under our forecastle been 

 properly insulated and fitted with a stove it might well have 

 served the purpose. As it is, with the present system, the 

 dampness of the living-spaces must be increased, though, 

 curiously enough, we do not notice it. We have erected long 

 clothes-lines on each side of the wardroom, which carry a full 

 exposi of our clothing economy, but whatever is ludicrous in 

 this Arcadian simplicity, whatever is incongruous with the 

 more artistic background, we have long ceased to notice. We 

 find that we can eat our dinner with the usual regard to the 

 forms of social politeness even when seated beneath our socks 

 and nether garments. 



1 But although the hut has not fulfilled expectation in this 

 respect, it is in constant use for other purposes. After the 

 sledging it came in handy for drying the furs, tents, &c. ; then 

 it was devoted to the skinning of birds for a month or more, a 

 canvas screen being placed close around the stove, whereby a 

 reasonable temperature was maintained in a small space ; then 

 various sailorising jobs, such as the refitting of the awnings and 

 the making of sword matting, were carried on in it ; and finally 

 it has been used both for the rehearsal and performance of 

 such entertainments as have served to lighten the monotony of 

 our routine, and in this capacity, when fitted with a stage and 

 decked with scenery, footlights, &c, it probably forms the 

 most pretentious theatre that has ever been seen in polar 

 regions. Of late a solid pedestal of firebricks has been built 

 in the small compartment and on this Bernacchi will shortly 

 be swinging his pendulums for gravity observations ; while in 

 the spring I hope that we may be able to use the larger com- 

 partment as a centre for collecting, weighing, and distributing 

 the food and equipment of the various sledge parties. 



' On the whole, therefore, our large hut has been and will 

 be of use to us, but its uses are never likely to be of such 

 importance as to render it indispensable, nor cause it to be 

 said that circumstances have justified the outlay made on it or 



