was not forgotten. Grog was served at midnight to all on deck. There
was grog again at breakfast, for the benefit of those who had been in
their bunks at midnight. Lees had decorated the wardroom with flags
and had a little Christmas present for each of us. Some of us had
presents from home to open. Later there was a really splendid dinner,
consisting of turtle soup, whitebait, jugged hare, Christmas pudding,
mince-pies, dates, figs and crystallized fruits, with rum and stout as
drinks. In the evening everybody joined in a "sing-song." Hussey had
made a one-stringed violin, on which, in the words of Worsley, he
"discoursed quite painlessly." The wind was increasing to a moderate
south-easterly gale and no advance could be made, so we were able to
settle down to the enjoyments of the evening.

The weather was still bad on December 26 and 27, and the 'Endurance'
remained anchored to a floe. The noon position on the 26th was lat.
65° 43´ S., long. 17° 36´ W. We made another sounding on this day with
the Lucas machine and found bottom at 2819 fathoms. The specimen
brought up was a terrigenous blue mud (glacial deposit) with some
radiolaria. Every one took turns at the work of heaving in, two men
working together in ten-minute spells.

Sunday, December 27, was a quiet day aboard. The southerly gale was
blowing the snow in clouds off the floe and the temperature had fallen
to 23° Fahr. The dogs were having an uncomfortable time in their deck
quarters. The wind had moderated by the following morning, but it was
squally with snow-flurries, and I did not order a start till 11 p.m.
The pack was still close, but the ice was softer and more easily
broken. During the pause the carpenter had rigged a small stage over
the stern. A man was stationed there to watch the propeller and
prevent it striking heavy ice, and the arrangement proved very