128 



SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



October Several white foxes had about this period been caught in traps set on 



^r^> shore, and were kept on board by the officers, with the hope of taming 

 them. Some account of these beautiful little animals is given in another 

 part of this winter's narrative. The thermometer rose as high as 21° on the 



Thur. 18. morning of the 18th, and thick snow continued falling incessantly for many 

 hours ; this remained in a very soft state upon the ice, and clung quite fast to 

 the rigging, in both these respects differing essentially from what we had 

 experienced during any part of our stay at Melville Island. A pair of snow- 

 boots were now issued gratis to each individual in the Expedition, being 

 part of a stock of extra warm clothing liberally furnished by Government, 

 to be supplied to the officers and men, at my discretion, as occasion should 

 require. These boots were made of strong drab cloth with thick soles of 

 cork, the slowly conducting property of which substance, together with 

 their large size, allowing a free circulation to the blood, afforded the ut- 

 most comfort that could be desired. Boots or shoes of leather never retain 

 the warmth long, under circumstances of very severe exposure. 



Frid. 19. On the 19th we began to put on the housing-cloths for covering in the 

 upper decks, and thus ensuring a comfortable and sheltered place for 

 walking in any weather during the winter. These cloths were composed 

 of the same stout and serviceable material as before, but were now painted 

 of a light colour instead of black, under the idea, suggested by some scientific 

 gentlemen in London, of preventing in a certain degree the radiation of 

 heat. As it was a great convenience, as well as saving of candles, to admit 

 daylight by the cabin and gun-room skylights, during the three hours 

 which, even at the darkest period, we should have in this latitude, the 

 housing was not carried the whole way aft, but finished by a screen a little 

 abaft the mainmast, which with a door at the gangway was found quite 

 sufficient for every useful purpose : a door with a pulley was also fixed 

 at the head and foot of each of the ladders communicating with the upper 

 deck. Instead of the planks used on the former voyage for resting the 

 housing-cloths upon, and which took up a great deal of room in the stowage, 

 we now substituted ropes, set up to the midship spars, and to others over 

 the ships' sides, after the manner of what seamen call " jack-stays," which 

 answered quite as well if not better than the other plan. 



Sat go. On the 20th, the thermometer again fell to zero at ten A.M., and by mid- 

 night as low as — 10°, the temperature gradually decreasing as the wind 

 backed to the W.N.W. during the two last days. A spirit thermometer was 



