FROM EDINBURGH TO THE ANTARCTIC 61 
We have made up on our Danish friend, for we have 
been steaming, and the wind is light and southerly. So far 
as I am concerned, the greatest event on board or in this 
round world was the painting of my bunk. I did it my- 
self. Unfortunately, I allowed myself to follow gratuitous 
advice, and first coated it with carbolic ; and the smell 
of the paint and carbolic mixture afterwards was bad — 
bad even op a whaler. The moral is scarcely new ; but it 
is intensely true : Never follow gratuitous advice, and in 
art matters go your own way if you have any ; most 
people have none. 
The only other event — quite a trifling one by Jock 
Harvey's account, was his driving a marline-spike into 
his arm while he was working at something on the mizzen- 
top. He merely clapped a quid of tobacco on the hole 
and went on with his work ; then when he came on deck, 
seeing that there was a doctor on board, he came aft and 
had it bandaged. There is no mistake, a sea life makes 
men hardy. 
Finished my drawing of Nick bringing aft the soup. 
It is of the kind called ' popular pictures/ Here is 
what the engraver calls a reproduction. God forgive 
him, and may we artists be forgiven our too great 
obligingness in painting too much of what is asked, and 
not enough of what we please. It is difficult to avoid 
aiming at momentary popularity on board ; the men are 
so flattering in their criticisms, and so good-natured and 
interested in my drawings, that it is difficult not to paint 
only what they most readily understand. 
Sometimes for the good of my soul I indulge in fan- 
