Dr. Bessels' Resources. 190 



resources as Dr. Bessels. He is ever ready to 

 invent some substitute if an instrument is broken, 

 and is of a most ingenious turn of mind. Amongst 

 other things 'which illustrate his inventive genius I 

 may mention his contrivance for amusing the crew 

 with a Christmas tree during the first winter. The 

 tree was made of tissue paper, and placed in their 

 observatory on the shore of Polaris Bay, and must 

 have been a decided success. On a shelf overhead 

 he placed two large basins, one containing grog 

 and the other punch. From these basins he led a 

 couple of india-rubber tubes which were concealed 

 by the foliage of the tree, a mouthpiece only pro- 

 jecting from the branches. Then, by pressing a 

 valve with his foot, the doctor was able to give the 

 men, as they entered with their pannikins, either 

 grog or punch as they desired, much to their sur- 

 prise, and to their no small satisfaction. It is 

 often very amusing to hear the chaffing discussions 

 which take place between Dr. Bessels and Mr. 

 Chester, the mate, who seem to have a high opinion 

 of each other. One day the latter was boasting of 

 his cooking qualifications, when the doctor reminded 

 him of a certain scouse he had made for the party, 

 and which even the dogs were unable to eat, the 

 ravenous propensities of the Esquimaux dogs being 

 proverbial. 



Dr. Bessels considers that no expedition should 

 go north without some Esquimaux for hunting and 



