CHAPTER XVI.

The Arctic Theatre enlarged upon— Great success of the first play— The
Esquimaus submit, and become fast friends.

HE Ist of December was a great day on board

the Dolphin, for on that day it was announced

to the crew that “The Arctic Theatre” would be
opened, under the able management of Mr. F. Ellice,
with the play of “ Blunderbore ; or, the Arctic Giant.”
The bill, of which two copies were issued gratis to the
crew, announced that the celebrated Peter Grim, Esq.,
who had so long trodden the boards of the Dolphin,
with unpavalleled success, had kindly consented to
appear in the character of Blunderbore for one winter
only. The other parts were as follows -— Whachkinta,
a beautiful Esquimau widow, who had been captured
by two Polar bears, both of which were deeply in
love with her, by Frederick Ellice, Esq. First Beur,
a big one, by Terrence O'Riley, Esq. Second Bear, a
little one, by David Summers, Esq. Ben Bolt, a brave
British seaman, who had been wrecked in Blunder-
bore’s desolate dominions, all the crew having per-
ished except himself, by John Buzzby, Esq. These
constituted the various characters of the piece, the
name of which had been kept a profound secret from