200 
FROM EDINBURGH TO THE ANTARCTIC 
their women and families, still dependent on the sweet 
wills of even humane owners and masters. 
As we steamed round the westerly point of Port William, 
to the south, past the lighthouse, the Active got under 
weigh and followed us. Then we set all sail, and once 
more started for the south for the country where, as Jack 
has it : — 
'There's ice and there's snow, 
And the stormy winds do blow, 
And the daylight's never done, brave boys.' 
Wednesday, i^th Dec. — We have spent many good 
hours in these last days reading newspapers that are 
dated up to the end of last October, and feel in no way 
the better for it. The Lord be praised we are free of 
social interests for a time at least, and a newspaper is 
only valuable as paper. B. is occupied in his berth 
skinning birds, pressing flowers, and arranging innumer- 
able specimens. I have an idea that he walks the deck 
all night ; if he doesn't, he must sleep on the top of his 
bird-skins and rocks. 
Mr. Adams shot a molly mauk to-day. It was flying 
alongside to windward, and it fell into our waist. It is a 
very handsome bird, of much more grace and beauty of 
form than the uncouth albatross. 
. . . Thursday. — Course again S.E. ; wind S.W. to S. ; 
a hot sun and a thin mist coming up with the wind. 
Nineteen white, soft, Swedish steel harpoons are laid out 
in the sunlight on the poop. Each harpoon is about four 
feet long, and each has Bakena engraved on the steel, to 
let all know who meet a whale north or south with such 
