LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
183 
posure to the rigour of the climate had not been of that duration 
as to effect their health. They might in some respects be regarded 
as a hive of bees, who when a glimpse of fine weather shows 
itself, take the advantage of it, and lea\e the hive, but who keep 
themselves comfortably housed in the midst of their provi¬ 
sions, as long as the bad weather continues. The labour in 
which the crew were employed exterior to the ship, might be 
viewed more in the character of exercise, than the imposition 
of an arduous task; indeed it might comparatively speaking, be 
said to be all night-work, the light being merely sufficient to 
enable them to distinguish the objects, and that only under cir¬ 
cumstances of a peculiar nature. 
On the 30th the weather being mild, the crew were sent on 
shore to obtain some sand, and that part of the crew which went 
under the name of the walking party, brought every forenoon 
two casks of water on board. In one of the shooting excursions, 
Capt. Ross saw the impression of a wolf's foot, which for some 
time afterwards was known to hover about the ship, but always 
eluded the vigilance of the sportsmen. 
The following is the scale of the Temperature of the exterior 
Atmosphere for the month of December 1829. 
Highest 
Lowest 
] 
Highest 
Lowest 
Highest 
Lowest 
Dec. 
Below 
Above 
Below 
Above 
Below 
Above 
1 
34 
12 
25 
23 
24 
18 
2 
26 
13 
26 
24 
20 
16 
3 
24 
14 
26 
25 
21 
16 
4 
17 
15 
27 
26 
29* 
25 
5 
19* 
16 
31 
27 
30 
29 
6 
15 
17 
36g 
28 
32 
25 
7 
23 
18 
33 
30 
29 
37 
30 
8 
17 
19 
22 
18 
30 
38 
25 
9 
20 
20 
20i 
201 
31 
20 
20 
10 
33 
21 
20 
16 
11 
29 
1 
22 
27 
1 
25 
