Volunteers for an Arctic Expedition. 181 



Yesterday, when I returned from our long chase 

 after the whales, I was in a most deplorable state, 

 for the boats are, if such a thing can be possible, in 

 a more filthy condition than the ship, and I find 

 that my clothes are all impregnated with a con- 

 glomeration of grease, tar, and coal dust, and other 

 things too numerous to mention. We were all 

 considerably refreshed by a good night's rest, and 

 I felt very loth to turn out this morning when called 

 by the steward, especially as he had not then had 

 time to light the fire, and there was a fresh cold 

 wind blowing from the westward, the effect of 

 which, in consequence of the spanker being set — 

 which acts as a famous, though unpleasant, wind- 

 sail — was distinctly felt in our cabins. It required 

 no small amount of resolution to plunge from a 

 nice warm bed into water at freezing temperature. 

 The sun was shining brightly, but the wind was so 

 cold that I noticed a canvas jacket, which had gone 

 through a nominal process of washing", and was 

 hung in the rigging to dry, in less than twenty 

 minutes frozen as hard as a board, while its lower 

 edge was adorned with a beautiful fringe of icicles. 



Frequently, while away in the whale boats, I have 

 conversations with the men, generally relative to 

 the Arctic regions, and it is extremely gratifying 

 to learn that in case of a Government expedition 

 leaving England next year, more than a third of 

 this ship's company have professed themselves 



