I9II] DOG TOUR ABANDONED 8i 



getting on ice at the Cape itself. Probably the ship will take 

 the greater part of the loads. 



Saturday, January 14. — The completion of our station is 

 approaching with steady progress. The wind was strong from 

 the S.S.E. yesterday morning, sweeping over the camp; the 

 temperature fell to 15°, the sky became overcast. To the south 

 the land outlines were hazy with drift, so my dog tour was aban- 

 doned. In the afternoon, with some moderation of conditions, 

 the ballast party went to work, and wrought so well that more 

 than 10 tons were got off before night. The organisation of 

 this work is extremely good. The loose rocks are pulled up, 

 some 30 or 40 feet up the hillside, placed on our heavy rough 

 sledges and rushed down to the floe on a snow track; here 

 they are laden on pony sledges and transported to the ship. 

 I slept on board the ship and found it colder than the camp — 

 the cabins were belov/ freezing all night and the only warmth 

 existed in the cheery spirit of the company. The cold snap froze 

 the water in the boiler and Williams had to light one of the 

 fires this morning. I shaved and bathed last night (the first 

 time for 10 days) and wrote letters from breakfast till tea time 

 to-day. Meanwhile the ballast team has been going on merrily, 

 and to-night Pennell must have some 26 tons on board. 



It was good to return to the camp and see the progress which 

 had been made even during such a short absence. The grotto 

 has been much enlarged and is, in fact, now big enough to hold 

 all our mutton and a considerable quantity of seal and penguin. 



Close by Simpson and Wright have made surprising progress 

 In excavating for the differential magnetic hut. They have 

 already gone in 7 feet and, turning a corner, commenced the 

 chamber, which is to be 13 feet X 5 feet. The hard ice of this 

 slope is a godsend and both grottoes will be ideal for their 

 purposes. 



The cooking range and stove have been placed in the hut 

 and now chimneys are being constructed; the porch is almost 

 finished as well as the interior; the various carpenters are busy 

 with odd jobs and it will take them some time to fix up the 

 many small fittings that different people require. 



I have been making arrangements for the depot journey, 

 telling off people for ponies and dogs, &c.® 



To-morrow is to be our first rest day, but next week every- 



VOL. I — 6 



