Monotony was our enemy, and to kill time our endeavour: hardships there was none: for all we underwent in winter quarters, in the shape of cold, hunger, or danger, was voluntary. Monotony, as I again repeat, was the only disagreeable part of our wintering at Griffith's Island. Some men amongst us seemed in their temperament to be much better able to endure this monotony than others: and others who had no source of amusement--such as reading, writing, or drawing--were much to be pitied. Nothing struck one more than the strong tendency to talk of home, and England: it became quite a disease. We, for the most part, spoke as if all the most affectionate husbands, dutiful sons, and attached brothers, had found their way into the Arctic expeditions. From these maudlins, to which the most strong-minded occasionally gave way, we gladly sought refuge in amusements,--such as theatres and balls. To give an idea of the zest with which all entered these gayeties, I will recount a list of the characters assumed by the officers, at the first fancy dress ball. Capt. Austin _Old Chairs to mend._ Ommanney _Mayor of Griffith's Island._ Lieut. Aldrich _Fancy dress._ Cator _Old English Gentleman._ M'Clintock _Blue Demon._ Osborn _Black Domino._ Brown _Red Devil._ Mecham _Blue and White Domino._ Dr. Donnet _A Lady, then a Friar._ Bradford _A Capuchin._ Ward _A Beadle._ Mr. King _Jockey._ Rearse _Smuggler._ May _Roman Soldier._ Hamilton _A Spinster._ Eds _Spanish Dancing Girl._ Markham _As Allegory._ Cheyne _Miss Maria._ M'Dougall _Vivandiere._ Lewis _Farmer Wapstraw._ Mr. Allard _Mahomet Ali._ Webb _Bedouin Arab._ Harwood _Miss Tabitha Flick._ Allen _Greenwich Pensioner._ Brooman _Punch._ Crabbe _Sir Charles Grandison._ Richards _A Scot._ Whilst pirates, Turks, gipsies, and ghosts, without number, chequered the ball-room. These our amusements; but the main object of our coming to the North was kept constantly in view, and nothing that labour or ingenuity could devise towards the successful accomplishment of our mission was wanting.