FESTIVITIES AT HOBAKT 119 
refitted, all the officers' time was not devoted to science. Hobart 
redoubled its welcome to the successful explorers ; * our arrival 
was hailed with delight by the inhabitants. Invitations of 
all sorts were poured in upon us for riding, hunting, and shoot- 
ing. The Theatre invented a Melodrama, and a Panorama 
showed us all off on the ice.' 
In return June 1 saw a grand ball given on board. The 
Erehus and Terror were lashed together, the decks roofed in, 
a covered way run to the shore over a bridge of boats to meet 
a direct road cut through the woods for 300 yards by Sir John 
Franklin, decorations and supper on a lavish scale, the whole 
paid for — and it cost a pretty penny — by a contribution of so 
many days' pay by each officer. Mrs. Fleming, in a letter written 
a few months later, receives some description of the frolics, 
which were kept up till 8 next morning, when the hosts were 
left to the misery of seeing the broken supper, the lamps 
taken down, and the horrid contrast which twelve hours 
always produces on such scenes. 
The lower deck was shut up and the Captain's cabin 
fitted with mirrors, brushes, and combs, &c., &c., and all 
the little nick-nacks you ladies use at toilet, and maid 
servants from Govt. House to match. Parties of us were 
stationed at the gangways to show the ladies below, and 
it was great fun to wait for a lady and gentleman coming 
along the passage and the moment she emerged into the 
blaze of Hght, offer an arm which she of course accepts, and 
lead her to where the maid servants are, through the crowd, 
while her poor husband, brother or father stared about him 
and asks for his partner. 
. . . We were lionized beyond anything, and the glorious 
First of June is to be noted hereafter in the Van Diemen's 
Land Almanacks as the day on which the most splendid 
entertainment the Tasmanians ever witnessed was given. 
It may be imagined that, as a consequence, many hearts 
were lost to the ladies of Hobart ; indeed, ' two of our officers 
are engaged in the colony and shall return thither, as soon 
as we are paid off, to fulfil the contract, or as we tell them, 
victimise themselves. (Don't you look black now.) ' 
