INSTRUCTIONS 55 
‘Should you succeed in landing, the object you will hold in 
view is to’ discover the nature and extent of King Edward’s 
Land. The possibilities of your situation are so various that it 
must be left to you entirely to determine how this object may 
best be achieved. 
‘In this connexion it remains only to say that you should 
be at your winter station and ready to embark on February 1, 
IgI2. 
‘If the Ship should not arrive by February 15, and your 
circumstances permit, you should commence to retreat across the 
Barrier, keeping at first near the edge in order to see the Ship 
should she pass. 
‘It would be a wise precaution to lay out a depot in this 
direction at an earlier date, and I trust that a further depét will 
be provided in some inlet as you go east in the Ship. 
‘When I hear that you have been safely landed in King 
Edward’s Land I shall take steps to ensure that a third depot 
is laid out. This will be placed by the Western Party one mile 
from the Barrier Edge and thirty miles from Cape Crozier. 
‘You will of course travel light on such a journey, and 
remember that fresh food can be obtained at Cape Crozier. A 
sledge sail should help you. 
‘ From Cape Crozier you should make for Hut Point, where 
shelter and food will be found pending the freezing over of the 
bays to the north. 
‘Should you be unable to land in the region of King Ed- 
ward’s Land you will be at liberty to go to the region of Robert- 
son Bay after communicating with Cape Evans. 
‘I think it very possible that a suitable wintering spot 
may be found in the vicinity of Smith’s Inlet, but the Ship 
must be handled with care as I have reason to believe that the 
pack sometimes presses on this coast. 
‘Should you be landed in or near Robertson Bay you will 
not expect to be relieved until March in the following year, but 
you should be in readiness to embark on February 25. 
‘The main object of your exploration in this region would 
naturally be the coast westward of Cape North. 
‘Should the Ship have not returned by March 25 it will be 
necessary for you to prepare for a second winter. 
‘In no case would it be advisable for you to attempt to 
