CHAPTER V. 
OUR CONDITION — THE RESORTS — THE SICK — TnE RAT IN Till) 
INSECT-BOX-ANTICIPATIONS-HANS’S RETURN-FAMINE A* 
ETAH — MYOUK ON BOARD—WALRUS-TACKLE — THE MEAT DIET. 
My journal for the beginning of March is little else 
than a chronicle of sufferings. Our little party was 
quite broken down. Every man on board was tainted 
with scurvy, and it was not common to find more than 
three who could assist in caring for the rest. The 
greater number were in their bunks, absolutely unable 
to stir. 
The circumstances were well fitted to bring out the 
character of individuals. Some were intensely grate¬ 
ful for every little act of kindness from their more for- 
0 
tunate messmates; some querulous; others despond¬ 
ing; others again wanted only strength to become 
mutinous. Brooks, my first officer, as stalwart a man- 
o’-war’s man as ever faced an enemy, burst into tears 
when he first saw himself in the glass. On Sunday, 
the 4th, our last remnant of fresh meat had been doled 
out. Our invalids began to sink rapidly. The wounds 
of our amputated men opened afresh. The region 
68 
