WE PREPARE POP THE SLEDGE EXPEDITION 33 



possibly several, without us who will go forth from 

 them into the midst of the solitude. This Christmas 

 passed off quietly and pleasantly, and every one seems 

 to be well content. By no means the least circumstance 

 that added to our enjoyment was that the wind brought 

 us the 83d degree as a Christmas-box. Our luck was, 

 this time, more lasting than I had anticipated ; the wind 

 continued fresh on Monday and Tuesday, but little by 

 little it lulled down and veered round to the north and 

 northeast. Yesterday and to - day it has been in the 

 northwest. Well, we must put up with it ; one cannot 

 help having a little contrary wind at times, and probably 

 it will not last long. 



" Christmas-eve was, of course, celebrated with great 

 feasting. The table presented a truly imposing array of 

 Christmas confectionery : ' Poor man's ' pastry, ' Stag- 

 horn ' pastry, honey-cakes, macaroons, ' Sister ' cake, and 

 what not, besides sweets and the like ; many may have 

 fared worse. Moreover, Blessing and I had worked 

 during the day in the sweat of our brow and produced a 

 ' Polar Champagne 83d Degree,' which made a sensation, 

 and which we two, at least, believed we had every reason 

 to be proud of, being a product derived from the noble 

 grape of the polar regions — viz., the cloudberry {jjiultcr). 

 The others seemed to enjoy it too, and, of course, many 

 toasts were drunk in this noble beverage. Quantities of 

 illustrated books were then brought forth ; there was 

 music, and stories, and songs, and general merriment. 



II.-3 



