58 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [FeBRuARY 
It was interesting to note that while the eastern side of the 
bay was clean cut, the western side was much weather worn and 
honeycombed with caves, evidently worn by the strong westerly 
current which sweeps along the Barrier. We saw two narrow 
inlets opening N.E. but not wide enough to trust the ship in; 
moreover as they open in this direction they are more liable to 
be blocked by any loose ice drifting in. 
In the afternoon the weather cleared and we were able 
to get sights, showing we were still to the eastward of Balloon 
Bight. By 9 A.M. we were off the place where Balloon Bight 
should have been, and our sights put us south of the old Barrier 
edge. ‘There was no doubt about it; Balloon Bight had gone. 
By midnight we were off Shackleton’s Bay of Whales. On 
rounding the eastern point our surprise can be imagined when 
we saw a ship, which I recognised as the Fram, made fast along- 
side the sea ice. 
Standing in, we made fast a little way ahead of her and 
hoisted our colours, she answering with the Norwegian ensign. 
There was no doubt it was Captain Amundsen. 
Pennell and I immediately went on board and saw Lieutenant 
Neilsen, who was in command. He told us Amundsen was up 
at the camp about three miles in, over the sea ice, but would 
be down about 9 o'clock, and accordingly soon after 9 I returned 
on board and saw Amundsen, who told me his plans. He had 
been here since January 4, after a good passage,. having been 
held only four days in the pack. He had intended wintering 
at Balloon Bight, but on finding that had gone, had fixed on 
the Bay of Whales as the best place. 
He asked me to come up and see his camp, so Pennell, 
Levick and I went up, and found he had erected his hut on the 
Barrier, about 3 miles from the coast. The camp presented a 
very workmanlike appearance, with a good sized hut containing 
a kitchen and living room with a double tier of bunks round 
the walls, while outside several tents were up and 116 fine 
Greenland dogs picketed round. 
His party besides himself consisted of Johansen, who was 
with Dr. Nansen in his famous sledge journey of ’97, and seven 
others. After coffee and a walk round the camp Amundsen 
and two others returned with us and had lunch in the Terra 
Nova. 
