from the bursting of the lemon-juice bottles by frost, the whole contents being frequently frozen into a solid mass, except a small portion of highly concentrated acid in the centre, which, in most instances, was found to have leaked out, so that when the ice was thawed it was little better than water. This evil increased to a very alarming degree in the course of the winter. The vinegar also became frozen in the casks in the same manner, and lost a great deal of its acidity when thawed.
“This circumstance,” says Lieutenant Parry, “conferred an additional value on a few gallons of very highly-concentrated vinegar, which had been sent out on trial upon this and the preceding voyage, and which, when mixed with six or seven times its own quantity of water, was sufficiently acid for every purpose. This vinegar, when exposed to the temperature of 26° below zero, congealed only into a consistence like that of the thickest honey, but was never sufficiently hard to break any vessel which contained it.
“Dec. 22. – We had now reached the shortest day; and such was the occupation which we had hitherto contrived to find during the first half of our long and gloomy winter, that the quickness with which it had come upon us was a subject of general remark. So far, indeed, were we from wanting that occupation of which I had been apprehensive, especially among the men, that it accidentally came to my knowledge about this period that they complained of not having time to mend their clothes. This complaint I was as glad to hear, as desirous to rectify * * * *. It may not, perhaps, be considered wholly uninteresting, to know in what manner our time was thus so fully occupied throughout the long and severe winter, which it was our lot to experience, and particularly during a three months’ interval of nearly total darkness.
“The officers and quarter-masters were divided into four watches, which were regularly kept, as at sea, while the remainder of the ship’s company were allowed to enjoy their night’s rest undisturbed. The hands were turned up at a quarter-before six, and both decks were well rubbed with stones and warm sand before eight o’clock, at which time, both officers and men went to breakfast. Three quarters of an hour being allowed afterwards for the men to prepare themselves for muster, we beat to divisions punctually at a quarter-past nine, when every person in the ship attended on the quarter-deck, and a strict inspection of the men took place, as to their personal cleanliness, and the good condition, as well as sufficient warmth, of their clothing. The reports of the officers having been made to me, the people were then allowed to walk about, or, more usually to run round the upper-deck, while I went down to examine the state of that below, accompanied by Lieutenant Beechey and Mr. Edwards. The state of this deck may be