500 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
burst forth with an explosion, which terrified the other inmates 
of the cabin; the result, however, of which was, that the fire of 
animosity, having nothing further to feed upon, gradually died 
away: the uncle took from his cellaret a magnum of Booth’s 
best cordial, the steward was called in to place the glasses on 
the table, the materials for punch were at hand, and the uncle 
and the nephew shortly afterwards turned in to their respective 
berths; having thoroughly convinced themselves,that the cabin 
of a ship blocked up in the ice, in a latitude of 70 north, is one 
of the most improper places in the world for two persons to live 
in, who are at enmity with each other. 
The month of March was very little inferior to January, in 
respect to the severity of the cold, the thermometer being some 
days as low as 50 below zero ; and it was a general remark, that 
the spring of 1831, far exceeded that of 1830 in coldness, and 
was nearly three weeks later; the difference of temperature 
ranging from 30 to 45 degrees, and the transition sometimes so 
sudden, that, one hour, the men did not find it too cold to 
walk on deck, and the next, exposed to a frost of 60 or 70 below 
the freezing point. 
The chief employment of the crew, during the month of 
March, consisted in fetching gravel for the canal, and building 
wnow houses for the purpose of shading the thermometer. 
The success of the shooting parties was so great, that the 
table of the cabin was seldom without game, particularly 
roasted hare, which was a standing dish on the Sundays ; in fact, 
the signification of the word privation was not known in that 
quarter, for the life of Capt. Ross, was, comparatively speaking, 
one of ease and comfort. 
On the 4th of x\pril, the biscuit was examined, and was found 
to be in good condition, there being above 6 cwt. remaining* 
For the better preserving of it, it was put in the casks, and 
stowed away in the driest part of the ship 
On the 6th, five hands were ordered to hold themselves in 
readiness for a travelling party, which was to set out on the 19th. 
Some of the crew were employed in the construction of a tent, 
in which it was intended that the travelling party were to 
