40 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH POLE 



January 9, 1909, they were compelled to return by 

 shortness of provisions, having planted Queen Alexan- 

 dra's flag in lat. 88 23' S., long. 162 E. 



Every one who reads Shackleton's diary must feel 

 a boundless admiration for these four heroes. History 

 can scarcely show a clearer proof of what men can 

 accomplish when they exert their full strength of will 

 and body. These men have raised a monument, not 

 only to themselves and their achievement, but also to 

 the honour of their native land and the whole of civi- 

 lized humanity. 



Shackleton's exploit is the most brilliant incident in 

 the history of Antarctic exploration. 



The distance covered, out and back, was 1,530 geo- 

 graphical miles. The time occupied was 127 days- 

 73 days out and 54 days back. The average daily 

 march was about 12 miles. 



Meanwhile the other party, composed of Professor 

 David, Mawson, and Mackay, had set off to determine 

 the position of the South Magnetic Pole. They had 

 neither ponies nor dogs, and had therefore to depend 

 solely on their own powers. It seems almost incredible, 

 but these men succeeded in working their way on foot 

 over sea-ice and land-ice, cracks and crevasses, hard 

 snow and loose snow, to the Magnetic Pole, and making 

 observations there. What was better still they all came 

 back safe and sound. The total distance covered was 

 1,260 geographical miles. 



