36 British Antarctic Expedition. 
As soon as the vessel had left London, my 
scientific staff, like the crew, had to take their part 
of hard work when necessary ; they helped in getting 
up and setting the sails, painting the vessel, arranging 
boxes, tarring the netting on sledges, giving a hand 
with the dogs, and at all times making themselves 
useful and growing into the life and custom on board, 
Thus I had an opportunity to study the physique 
and character of everyone on board at an early stage 
of the Expedition. Any work, if ever so hard, was 
done without a murmur by my staff, and I found 
that, the (aet that all bad to take their part 
materially helped to make things smooth and pleasant 
in the life on board. As soon as we left Hobart 
every one of my staff had to take a watch with the 
other officers on board, thereby doing excellent 
service in the look-out for icebergs, and also 
gradually hardening themselves for the life which 
lay before them. It was promising to see the 
members of my scientific staff at one time with 
hands and faces black with tar, and presently 
clean, and working with the most delicate instru- 
ments, or carefully working out observations just 
taken. It is clear that in a vessel with thirty-one 
men, the ordinary routine of ship discipline must 
be kept up, but still, on special oecon they 
were permitted to mix freely all) over tle vessel 
From time to time concerts were given, when the 
staff as well as the crew took part in the entertain- 
ments. Amongst the crew a very good quartette 
was formed, and our concerts were by no means on 
the level which might be expected from an ordinary 
ships crew. Of course, very many of those who 
