356 FARTHEST NORTH 



of every kind, relaxation in the shape of cards, chess, 

 dominoes, hahiia, music, and story-telHng — how should 

 any one be ill ? Every now and then I hear remarks 

 expressive of perfect satisfaction with the life. Truly 

 the whole secret lies in arranging things sensibly, and 

 especially in being careful about the food. A thing that 

 I believe has a good effect upon us is this living to- 

 gether in the one saloon, with everything in common. 

 So far as I know, it is the first time that such a thins; 

 has been tried ; but it is quite to be recommended. I 

 have heard some of the men complain of sleeplessness. 

 This is generally considered to be one inevitable con- 

 sequence of the Arctic darkness. As far as I am per- 

 sonally concerned, I can say that I have felt nothing of 

 it ; I sleep soundly at night. I have no great belief in 

 this sleeplessness ; but then I do not take an after-dinner 

 nap, which most of the others are addicted to ; and if 

 they sleep for several hours during the clay they can 

 hardly expect to sleep all night as well. ' One must be 

 awake part of one's time,' as Sverdrup said. 



"Sunday, December 31st. And now the last day of 

 the year has come ; it has been a long year, and has 

 brought much both of good and bad. It began with 

 good by bringing little Liv — such a new, strange hap- 

 piness that at first I could hardly believe in it. But 

 hard, unspeakably hard, was the parting that came later; 

 no year has brought worse pain than that. And the 

 time since has been one great longing. 



