xxxii INTRODUCTION 



like him to avoid a place for the very reason that it had 

 been trodden by others. Happily we were right. Not 

 at any point does his route touch that of the Englishmen 

 -except by the Pole itself. 



This is a great gain to research. When in a year's 

 time we have Captain Scott back safe and sound with 

 all his discoveries and observations on the other route, 

 Amundsen's results will greatly increase in value, since 

 the conditions will then be illuminated from two sides. 

 The simultaneous advance towards the Pole from two 

 separate points was precisely the most fortunate thing 

 that could happen for science. The region investigated 

 becomes so much greater, the discoveries so many more, 

 and the importance of the observations is more than 

 doubled, often multiplied many times. Take, for in- 

 stance, the meteorological conditions: a single series 

 of observations from one spot no doubt has its value, 

 but if we get a simultaneous series from another spot 

 in the same region, the value of both becomes very 

 much greater, because we then have an opportunity 

 of understanding the movements of the atmosphere. 

 And so with other investigations. Scott's expedition 

 will certainly bring back rich and important results in 

 many departments, but the value of his observations 

 will also be enhanced when placed side by side with 

 Amundsen's. 



An important addition to Amundsen's expedition to 

 the Pole is the sledge journey of Lieutenant Prestrud and 



