SOUTH 
such as flour and sugar, and for fats was very real. Marston 
had with him a small penny cookery book. From this he would 
read out one recipe each night, so as to make them last. This 
would be discussed very seriously, and alterations and improve- 
ments suggested, and then they would turn into their bags to 
dream of wonderful meals that they could never reach. The 
following conversation was recorded in one diary : 
" Wild : ' Do you like doughnuts ? ' 
" McIlroy : ' Bather ! ' 
" Wild : ' Very easily made, too. I like them cold with 
a httle jam.' 
" McIleoy : ' Not bad ; but how about a huge omelette ? ' 
" Wild : ' Fine ! ' (with a deep sigh). 
"Overhead, two of the sailors are discussing some extra- 
ordinary mixture of hash, apple-sauce, beer, and cheese. 
Marston is in his hammock reading from his penny cookery 
book. Farther down, some one eulogizes Scotch shortbread. 
Several of the sailors are talking of spotted dog, sea-pie, and 
Lockhart's with great feehng. Some one mentions nut-food, 
whereat the conversation becomes general, and we all decide 
to buy one pound's worth of it as soon as we get to civihzation, 
and retire to a country house to eat it undisturbed. At present 
we really mean it, too ! " 
Midwinter's day, the great Polar festival, was duly observed. 
A "magnificent breakfast" of sledging ration hoosh, full 
strength and well boiled to thicken it, with hot milk was 
served. Luncheon consisted of a wonderful pudding, invented 
by Wild, made of powdered biscuit boiled with twelve pieces 
of mouldy nut-food. Supper was a very finely cut seal hoosh 
flavoured with sugar. 
After supper they had a conceit, accompanied by Hussey 
on his " indispensable banjo." This banjo was the last thing 
to be saved off the ship before she sank, and I took it with us 
as a mental tonic. It was carried all the way through with 
us, and landed on Elephant Island practically unharmed, and 
did much to keep the men cheerful. Nearly every Saturday 
night such a concert was held, when each one sang a song 
about some other member of the party. If that other one 
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