1911] TOWARD CAPE ADARE 59 
We left early in the afternoon, and after sounding and 
dredging in the bay, proceeded west along the Barrier, of which 
there still remained nearly 100 miles we had not seen. 
Outside the bay we were unlucky enough to pick up a S.W. 
wind, but with clear weather we kept close along the Barrier 
edge to long. 170° W., where we had left it on our way east, 
without seeing any inlet or possible place to land. ‘This was a 
great disappointment to us all, but there was nothing for it but 
to return to McMurdo Sound to communicate with the main 
party and then try and effect a landing in the vicinity of Smith’s 
Inlet or as far to the westward as possible on the north coast 
of Victoria Land, and if possible to explore the unknown coast 
west of Cape North. 
We therefore made the best of our way to Cape Evans, and 
in spite of a moderate S.W. gale arrived on the evening of 
the 8th. 
Here I decided to land the two ponies, as they would be 
very little use to us on the mountainous coast of Victoria Land, 
and in view of the Norwegian expedition I felt the Southern 
Party would require all the transport available. 
After landing the ponies we steamed up to the sea ice by 
Glacier Tongue, and from there, taking Priestley and Abbott, 
I went with letters to leave at Hut Point, where the Depot 
Party would call on their way back. The surface was good and 
we got back to the ship about 3 A.M., and then proceeded to 
water ship at Glacier Tongue. While watering ship an accident 
occurred which might have been serious. The ship was secured 
alongside, and Abbott was just stepping ashore when a large 
piece of ice broke away with him on it and fell between the 
ship and the ice edge. Luckily he was not hurt, and was soon 
pulled on board again, none the worse, except for a ducking. 
By 8 o'clock in the evening of the 9th we were all ready, and 
proceeded north with a fair S.E. wind, but thick snow. 
During the afternoon of February 12th the wind freshened 
into a gale with heavy snow, and not wanting to close Cape 
Adare in such thick weather we hove to under main lower 
topsail with Cape Adare bearing N.W., distant 20 miles. 
During the night the wind increased, and continued blowing 
a very heavy gale until the evening of the 15th. In spite of the 
very heavy sea the ship was fairly dry, but being so light we 
