376 SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



CHAPTER XIII. 



PREPARATIONS FOR THE WINTER VARIOUS METEOROLOGICAL PHENOMENA TO THE 



CLOSE OF THE YEAR 1822 — SICKNESS AMONG THE ESQUIMAUX A HOSPITAL BUILT 



NEAR THE SHIPS FOR THEIR ACCOMMODATION METEOROLOGICAL PHENOMENA TO 



THE END OF MARCH ABSTRACT OF THE COMPARATIVE MEAN WINTER TEMPERATURE 



AT MELVILLE ISLAND, WINTER ISLAND, AND IGLOOLIK. 



1822. The measures now adopted for the security of the ships and their stores, for 

 Novemb. ^j^p maintenance of economy, cleanliness, and health, and for the prosecu- 

 tion of the various observations and experiments, being principally the same 

 as those already detailed in the preceding winter's narrative, it will only be 

 necessary to mention those particulars in which, either from some slight 

 difference of situation, or from our additional experience, any deviation from 

 the former plans was now considered necessary. 



It is worthy of notice that each succeeding winter passed in these regions 

 had suggested to us the expediency of leaving our masts, yards, sails, and 

 rigging more and more in their proper places than before : and all that we 

 now did was to strike the top-gallant yards and masts, unreeve the running- 

 rigging to prevent chafing by the wind, lay the small sails across the tops, 

 and hang the spare spars over the side. It may, indeed, be safely affirmed 

 that, in a high latitude, the less the masts and yards are dismantled the better, 

 for the frost does no injury to the geer while it remains unmoved ; and none 

 can possibly occur from thawing till the proper season for refitting arrives. 

 The boats were placed on the ice, about fifty yards from the ships, and with 

 their geer stowed in them closely covered with snow. 



In banking the snow against the ships' sides, pains were taken to make 

 this a more effectual protection than before. For this purpose a wall of suf- 

 ficient height, composed of cut slabs of snow, was first constructed at the dis- 

 tance of four or five feet from the bends, and loose snow afterwards thrown 



