524 
THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 
[chap. X. 
been arranged as a working room, and was now set in order for 
the Christmas festivities, and richly and tastefully ornamented 
with flags. A large number of small wax-lights, which we had 
brought with us for the special purpose, were fixed in the 
Christmas tree, together with about two hundred Christmas 
boxes purchased or presented to us before our departure. At 
six o’clock in the afternoon all the officers and crew assembled 
in the ’tweendecks, and the drawing of lots began, now and then 
interrupted by a thundering polka round the peculiar Christmas 
tree. At supper neither Christmas ale nor ham was wanting. 
And later in the evening there made their appearance in the 
’tweendecks five punchbowls, which were emptied with songs 
and toasts for King and Fatherland, for the objects of the 
Expedition, for its officers and men, for the families at home, for 
relatives and friends, and finally for those who decked and 
arranged the Christmas tree, who were the sailors C. Lundgren 
and O. Hansson, and the firemen 0. Ingelsson and C. Carlstrom^ 
The other festivals were also celebrated in the best way, and 
at midnight before New Year’s Day the new year was shot in 
with sharp explosive-shell firing from the rifled cannon of the 
Vega, and a number of rockets thrown up from the deck. 
END OF VOL. I. 
LONDON : R. CLAV, SONF, AND TAYLOR, PRINTERS. 
