I902] START ON SOUTHERN RECONNAISSANCE 381 



candelabrum with crystal pendants. We do not know quite 

 how to account for these formations ; our thermometers show 

 the temperature of the water as something below its freezing- 

 point, but I do not know that they are very reliable for such 

 small differences. In any case, I do not know of this sort of 

 thing having been recorded elsewhere.' 



It has been since explained that these crystals were prob- 

 ably due to the super-cooling of the sea, and that with the sea 

 in this condition ice will only form about such nuclei as were 

 afforded by the ropes and the nets, just as a supersaturated 

 solution can be made to crystallise in much the same manner 

 in a simple laboratory experiment. In this light it would be 

 natural enough that the effect should increase as the water 

 grew colder towards the spring, and it is interesting to note 

 that Hodgson found that at one time these crystals formed as 

 deep as seventeen fathoms below the surface. 



Owing to some delay in making fresh harness for our dogs, 

 and in rearranging the manner of their pulling, followed by 

 the intervention of a most tantalising blizzard, it was not until 

 September 17 that I was able to make a start on the southern 

 reconnaissance journey. On the morning of that day we got 

 away fairly early, my two comrades being Barne and Shackleton. 

 We had with us only thirteen dogs, divided into two teams. 

 The sledges carried food for a fortnight for all concerned, 

 together with a quantity of stores to form a depot, the whole 

 giving a load of about 90 lbs. per dog. My diary for this 

 journey continues : 



'Left the ship at 9 a.m., dogs at first pulling well. Bright 

 clear sky with sunshine, fluctuating temperature. Came to 

 the old ice-rise (about fifteen feet in height, four miles south 

 of the ship). 1.15, camped for lunch, having covered about 

 ten miles ; wind turned to east, very cold, thermometer -43°, 

 haze near surface and now slight wind-drift. Land mostly 

 obscured, but high points giving general direction. Dogs find 

 loads heavy, but pulling fairly well ; a few cases of sore feet ; 

 made good evolution of packing tent, and away again. Saw 

 magnificent parhelion showing prismatic colours on each side 



