roT2] READINGS AND LECTURES i39 
April 13-17. — Strong westerly wind, bitterly cold. 
April 20. — The same wind continues, but slightly 
warmer. A large piece had calved off the Drygalski ice 
tongue. I think this northern face must be altering very 
fast, as its appearance does not tally with the last survey. 
April 23. — Another calm day. Browning and 
Dickason saw two seals on floes, but were unable to 
reach them. The sea is still open. On calm days a 
thin film of ice forms, but disappears as soon as the wind 
gets up. The current also plays an important part, I am 
sure, as in Arrival Bay, where there is no current, the 
ice has formed, and is several feet thick, although the 
winds are just as strong. 
April 24, 25, 26. — Blowing a hard blizzard. On 
the 25th Dickason dropped ' Y ' deck watch and broke 
the glass, but ' R ' and ' C ' are going strong, and with 
sticking-plaster and * new skin ' we have mended Y's 
glass. We are very snug in our den, and hardly hear 
the Wind. 
From April 27 to May 5 the weather prevented 
much outside work and we spent most of our time in our 
bags, or working at the improvement of the long tunnel 
which led to our home. We are roofing this with sealskins 
on a framework of bamboos, trusting to the drift to 
increase the thickness of the roof and so insulate us more 
thoroughly against the cold. We have also dug out one 
or two alcoves in which to keep meat, blubber, and 
miscellaneous stores. 
We lost the sun to-day and shall not get him back 
till August 12. 
