I9II] DATES OF THE SEA FREEZING 157 



I roused the party at 7 a.m. and we were soon under weigh, 

 with a desperately cold and stiff breeze and frozen clothes; it 

 was very heavy pulling, but the distance only two miles. Ar- 

 rived off the point about ten and found sea ice continued around 

 it. It was a very great relief to see the hut on rounding it and 

 to hear that all was well. 



Another pony, Hackenschmidt, and one dog reported dead, 

 but this certainly is not worse than expected. All the other 

 animals are in good form. 



Delighted with everything I see in the hut. Simpson has 

 done wonders, but indeed so has everyone else, and I must leave 

 description to a future occasion. 



Friday, April 14. — Good Friday. Peaceful day. Wind con- 

 tinuing 20 to 30 miles per hour. 



Had divine service. 



Saturday, April 15. — Weather continuing thoroughly bad. 

 Wind blowing from 30 to 40 miles an hour all day; drift bad, 

 and to-night snow falling. I am waiting to get back to Hut 

 Point with relief stores. To-night sent up signal light to inform 

 them there of our safe arrival — an answering flare was shown. 



Sunday, April 16. — Same wind as yesterday up to 6 o'clock, 

 when it fell calm with gusts from the north. 



Have exercised the ponies to-day and got my first good look 

 at them. I scarcely like to express the mixed feelings with which 

 I am able to regard this remnant. 



Freezing of Bays. Cape Evans 



March 15. — General young ice formed. 



March 19. — Bay cleared except strip inside Inaccessible and 

 Razor Back Islands to Corner Turk's Head. 



March 20. — Everything cleared. 



March 25. — Sea froze over inside Islands for good. 



March 28. — Sea frozen as far as seen. 



March 30. — Remaining only inside Islands. 



April I. — Limit Cape to Island. 



April 6. — Present limit freezing in Strait and in North Bay. 



April 9. — Strait cleared except former limit and some ice in 

 North Bay likely to remain. 



