THE FIRST ACCOUNT i x 



barrier surface. At the same time we carried out all 

 the scientific work for which there was opportunity. 

 We made a number of surprising meteorological obser- 

 vations. There was very little snow, in spite of there 

 being open water in the neighbourhood We had 

 expected to observe higher temperatures in the course of 

 the winter, but the thermometer remained very low. 

 During five months temperatures were observed varying 

 between -58 and -74 F. We had the lowest (- 74 F.) 

 on August 13; the weather was calm. On August 1 

 we had - 72 F. with a wind of thirteen miles an hour. 

 The mean temperature for the year was - 15 F. We 

 expected blizzard after blizzard, but had only two 

 moderate storms. We made many excellent observa- 

 tions of the aurora australis in all parts of the heavens. 

 Our bill of health was the best possible throughout the 

 whole winter. When the sun returned on August 24 

 it shone upon men who were healthy in mind and body, 

 and ready to begin the task that lay before them. 



We had brought the sledges the day before to the 

 starting-point of the southern journey. At the beginning 

 of September the temperature rose, and it was decided 

 to commence the journey. On September 8 a party of 

 eight men set out, with seven sledges and ninety dogs, 

 provisioned for ninety days. The surface was excellent, 

 and the temperature not so bad as it might have been. 

 But on the following day we saw that we had started 

 too early. The temperature then fell, and remained 



