OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 



147 



On applying the electrometer, however, the gold leaf was not in the slightest D eC emb. 

 degree affected. We afterwards found it to have arisen from the wind acting y ~^r*»> 

 upon the plank at the mast-head in a certain angle, the same effect being 

 once or twice afterwards produced with a breeze in the same direction. 



On the arrival of the last day of the year, it was impossible not to expe- 

 rience very high gratification in observing the excellent health and spirits 

 enjoyed by almost every officer and man in both ships. The only invalid in 

 the Expedition was Reicl, our carpenter's mate, and even he was at this 

 period so much improved, that very sanguine hopes were entertained of his 

 continued amendment. In consequence of the effectual manner in which 

 the men were clothed, particularly about the feet, not a single frost-bite had 

 occurred that required medical assistance even for a day, and, what was more 

 important to us, not a scorbutic symptom had appeared. 



To increase our ordinary issue of anti-scorbutics, liberal as it already was, 

 we had from the commencement of the winter adopted a regular system of 

 growing mustard and cress, which the superior warmth of the ships now 

 enabled us to do on a larger scale than before. Each mess, both of the offi- 

 cers and ships' company, was for this purpose furnished with a shallow 

 box filled with mould, in which a crop could generally be raised in from 

 eight or ten days. The quantity thus procured on board the Fury now 

 amounted to above fifty pounds' weight, and before the arrival of spring to 

 nearly one hundred pounds ; and, trifling as such a supply may appear to 

 those who are in the habit of being more abundantly furnished, it will not be 

 considered to have been without its use, when it is remembered how complete 

 a specific for the scurvy fresh vegetable substance has invariably proved. In 

 consideration of the salads thus raised, Mr. Edwards recommended our re- 

 serving the cranberries intended to have been issued during a part of this 

 winter, until circumstances might render them more essentially requisite 

 to the health of the ships' companies. This arrangement was accordingly 

 adopted and the event fully justified its propriety. 



With respect to the occupations which engaged our time during this 

 season of unavoidable inactivity, I can add little or nothing to my former 

 account of the manner in which we passed the winter at Melville Island ; for 

 the two situations were so nearly similar, and our resources necessarily so 

 limited in this way, that it was not easy to produce much variety in the 

 employment of them. It may be imagined, and was indeed anticipated by 

 ourselves, that want of novelty was on the present occasion a disadvantage 



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