220 SCOTDS) PAST EXPEDITION [May 
the sleeping-bags, which were in sad need of repair. Luckily 
the ship had left us with a good supply of reindeer skin and 
there was plenty to go round and fill up the bare patches in the 
sleeping-bags. 
The mule gear which had been supplied by the Indian 
Government showed the very greatest forethought in every 
detail. There were only very slight alterations to be made, 
more especially in the texture of the gear. The mules had been 
supplied with a form of canvas snow-goggles, for the ponies 
in the previous year had suffered badly from snow blindness. 
These goggles saved the mules from this amount of discomfort 
when they were on the Barrier. We also realised that owing 
to their small hoofs they would probably have to use snow-shoes. 
These had been supplied, and on trying the mules with them 
most of the animals after a very short time took to them quite 
naturally. 
Debenham had been given charge of all photographic gear; 
and was out continually taking photographs of general and scien- 
tific interest. 
On May to Nelson lectured on the tides, the main interest 
of his contention being that with the greatest declination of the 
moon the movement of ice was more probable. 
A never-failing source of amusement after dinner every night 
has been a form of bagatelle which is played on a mess table. 
The table was covered with a strip of green Willesden canvas 
stretched between two long boards which formed the cushions. 
Between these boards at the top of the table a bridge fits, having 
in it a number of holes. The object is to get the balls into these 
holes, the score being according to the number above the hole. 
A competition was arranged and the lowest scorer of the com- 
petition received the Jonah Medal. Having obtained this, he 
had to announce at luncheon each day ‘Gentlemen, I am the 
Jonah.’ This he continued to do until someone else had relieved 
him of the medal. 
The ice in the North Bay now froze again to a thickness of 
4 to 5 inches. Nelson started again to build his igloo on the ice 
in the South Bay to carry on his biological work. When he had 
pricked the ice the water came through and flowed over the floor 
of his igloo. The ice, being thin, was pressed down at the spot 
where the weight bore on it. 
