56 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [January 
retreat along the coast. Seals and penguins should be plentiful 
and possibly some useful stores may remain at Cape Adare, but 
the existence of stores should not be regarded as more than a 
possibility. 
‘In conclusion I wish you all possible good luck, feeling 
assured that you will deserve it. 
(Signed) R. Scorr. 
By 9 A.M. on the 27th we were off Cape Crozier and com- 
menced our survey of the Barrier to see what changes had taken 
place since 1901. 
About 9 A.M. on January 30 we passed an inlet opening N. 
by W., 1100 yards long, 250 wide, having perpendicular sides 
about 90 feet high. 
This evening about seven we saw a large piece of the Bar- 
rier break off. We were at the time within 900 yards of the 
cliff, when we heard a noise like thunder and saw a cloud of 
spray rise up about half a mile ahead of us. The cloud of 
spray completely hid the Barrier at that place, and as this 
cleared we saw that a large piece had broken off, while débris 
of ice was forced out across our bows, making us alter course 
to avoid it. 
January 31.—While steaming up a bay this afternoon an- 
other large piece of the Barrier broke away. It must have been 
five miles away, but we heard the noise like a peal of thunder and 
through our glasses saw a cloud of spray hanging over the place 
like a fog. 
Soon after 3 P.M. we were up at the head of the bay, when 
we found new ice had formed. The‘ Barrier here runs down 
nearly to the water’s edge, and were it ofily farther to the east- 
ward would not be a bad place to winter. 
A number of Sibbald whales were blowing in the bay, and 
on the ice we saw several seals, and some Emperor penguins. 
Time and coal were precious; so we did not wait, but turned, 
and steamed out of the bay. 
On getting outside we found a strong S.E. wind, and as 
we had the current against us as well, we decided not to work 
along the Barrier, but to shape course direct for Cape Colbeck, 
in which case we could carry fore and aft sail. We encountered 
strong S.E. wind but no pack, until 3 o’clock on the morning 
