CAMP SNOWED UP 123 



Nearly 26 miles to our credit. The dogs went very well and 

 the surface became excellent after the first 5 or 6 miles. At the 

 Bluff Camp, No. 11, we picked up Evans' track and found that 

 he must have made excellent progress. No. 10 Camp was much 

 snowed up : I should imagine our light blizzard was severely 

 felt along this part of the route. We must look out to-morrow 

 for signs of Evans being ' held up.' 



The old tracks show better here than on the softer surface. 

 During this journey both ponies and dogs have had what under 

 ordinary circumstances would have been a good allowance of 

 food, yet both are desperately hungry. Both eat their own 

 excrement. With the ponies it does not seem so horrid, as 

 there must be a good deal of grain, &c., which is not fully 

 digested. It is the worst side of dog driving. All the rest is 

 diverting. The way in which they keep up a steady jog trot 

 for hour after hour is wonderful. Their legs seem steel springs, 

 fatigue unknown — for at the end of a tiring march any unusual 

 incident will arouse them to full vigour. Osman has been re- 

 stored to leadership. It is curious how these leaders come off 

 and go off, all except old Stareek, who remains as steady as ever. 



We are all acting like seasoned sledge travellers now, such 

 is the force of example. Our tent is up and cooker going in 

 the shortest time after halt, and we are able to break camp in 

 exceptionally good time. Cherry-Garrard is cook. He is ex- 

 cellent, and is quickly learning all the tips for looking after him- 

 self and his gear. 



What a difference such care makes is apparent now, but was 

 more so when he joined the tent with all his footgear iced up, 

 whilst Wilson and I nearly always have dry socks and finnesko 

 to put on. This is only a point amongst many in which ex- 

 perience gives comfort. Every minute spent In keeping one's 

 gear dry and free of snow is very well repaid. 



Monday, February 20. — 29 miles. Lunch. Excellent run 

 on hard wind-swept surface — covered nearly seventeen miles. 

 Very cold at starting and during march. Suddenly wind changed 

 and temperature rose so that at the moment of stopping for 

 final halt it appeared quite warm, almost sultry. On stopping 

 found we had covered 29 miles, some 35 statute miles. The 

 dogs are weary but by no means played out — during the last 

 part of the journey they trotted steadily with a wonderfully 



