*9xx] A CHRISTMAS TREE 327 
their kind previously taken in these regions. Our audience 
cheered vociferously. 
After this show the table was restored for snapdragon, 
and a brew of milk punch was prepared in which we drank 
the health of Campbell's Party and of our good friends in 
the Terra Nova. Then the table was again removed and 
a set of lancers formed. 
By this time the effect of stimulating liquid refreshment 
on men so long accustomed to a simple life became 
apparent. Our biologist had retired to bed, the silent 
Soldier bubbled with humour and insisted on dancing 
with Anton. Evans, P.O., was imparting confidences in 
heavy whispers. ? Pat ' Kcohanc had grown intensely 
Irish and desirous of political argument, whilst Clissold 
sat with a constant expansive smile and punctuated the 
babble of conversation with an occasional ' Whoop ' of 
delight or disjointed witticism. Other bright-eyed in- 
dividuals merely reached the capacity to enjoy that which 
under ordinary circumstances might have passed without 
evoking a smile. 
In the midst of the revelry Bowers suddenly appeared, 
followed by some satellites bearing an enormous Christmas 
Tree whose branches bore flaming candles, gaudy crackers, 
and little presents for all. The presents, I learnt, had 
been prepared with kindly thought by Miss Souper (Mrs. 
Wilson's sister) and the tree had been made by Bowers of 
pieces of stick and string with coloured paper to clothe its 
branches ; the whole erection was remarkably creditable and 
the distribution of the presents caused much amusement. 
Whilst revelry was the order of the day within our 
