28 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH POLE 



island, separated from the mainland by McMurdo 

 Sound. It was given the name of Ross Island. 



Sledge journeys began with the spring. Depots were 

 laid down, and the final march to the South was begun 

 on November 2, 1902, by Scott, Shackleton, and Wilson. 



They had nineteen dogs to begin with. On Novem- 

 ber 27 they passed the 80th parallel. Owing to the 

 nature of the ground their progress was not rapid; 

 the highest latitude was reached on December 30- 

 82 17' S. New land was discovered a continuation 

 of South Victoria Land. One summit after another 

 rose higher and higher to the south. 



The return journey was a difficult one. The dogs 

 succumbed one after another, and the men themselves 

 had to draw the sledges. It went well enough so long 

 as all were in health; but suddenly Shackleton was 

 incapacitated by scurvy, and there were only two left to 

 pull the sledges. 



On February 3 they reached the ship again, after an 

 absence of ninety-three days. 



Meanwhile Armitage and Skelton had reached, for 

 the first time in history, the high Antarctic inland 

 plateau at an altitude of 9,000 feet above the sea. 



The relief ship Morning had left Lyttelton on 

 December 9. On her way south Scott Island was 

 discovered, and on January 25 the Discovery's masts 

 were seen. But McMurdo Sound lay icebound all that 

 year, and the Morning returned home on March 3. 



