306 
SNOW-RUBBING. 
jtfioment: it fastened on the upper side of iny tongue, 
and flattened it out like a batter-cake between the 
two disks of a hot griddle. It required all my care, 
with the hare hands, to release it, and that not without 
laceration. 
Fehruary 25 . A murky day. Two hundred and 
forty-four fathoms of line gave no bottom at the air- 
hole. Scurvy getting ahead. Began using the rem- 
nant of our fetid bear’s meat : nasty physic, but we 
will try it. It is colder to-day, with the wind and fog 
at - 15 °, than a few days ago at - 46 °. Wind south 
by east: sun not seen. i • 
February 10,, Wednesday. The sun came back 
again with such vigor, that my spirit standard rose 
over black to + 14 ° ; my glass — cased, to + 35 °. The 
difference between shade and sunshine is 30 *= : a ther- 
mometer freely suspended in shade and in sun gave 
— 32 ° and -2°. Black surfaces begin to scale oft' 
their snowy covering, not by thawing attended by 
moisture, but with a manifest diminution in the te- 
nacity and adhesiveness of the snow. We observe 
these indications of returning heat closely. 
“The scurvy has at last fairly extended to our own 
little body, the officers. Pains in the limbs, and deep- 
seated soreness' of the bones, seem to be its most com- 
mon demonstration. The complaint i^ of ‘ a sort of 
tired feeling,’ or as if ‘ they had had a beating.’ Our 
usual supper, the saur-krout, has become' excessively 
popular. Even the abused bear is not quite as bad as 
it was. 
“ The crew have been snow-rubbing their blankets. 
The snow is so fine and s'and-li'ke, that under these 
low Arctic temperatures it acts mechanically, and is 
an effectual cleanser. Withal, if you beat it well out 
