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keeps fairly open. The whole shore since the last gale is piled with enormous blocks of ice, 15 to 20 feet square, and as many of them are glacier ice we find them most useful for our drinking water.

One of the problems of our spring journey along the coast is how we are going to get back if the ice goes out, or even get over the big lanes that are sure to open in the spring, so I have decided to build two kayaks, by making canvas boats to fit round the sledges; these can be carried on the sledges when travelling over the ice and the sledge fitted in them when crossing open water.

April 17.—The first kayak was finished last Thursday and the canvas dressed with hot blubber, but owing to a week of winds we had not been able to try her until to-day. She proved a great success. I made the first cruise in her along the north shore, using a bamboo as a paddle; she was not at all crank and carried me easily. We will build another, so that by lashing the two together we should have a very seaworthy craft.

May 2.—A lovely day, and as the second kayak was ready we tried her. I have given her more freeboard than the last, and she is, if anything, more seaworthy.

The temperature, which had been steadily dropping all last month, is now at about −7° F., very pleasant in calm weather, but in the winds most of us have had our faces frostbitten.

It is wonderful how quickly the time is passing. I suppose it is our regular routine, and the fact of all having plenty to do.

Levick is photographer, microbiologist, and stores