176 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [May 



island had a good sprinkling of snow, which will all be gone, 

 I expect, to-night. For as we reached the summit we saw a 

 storm approaching from the south; it had blotted out the Bluff, 

 and we watched it covering Black Island, then Hut Point and 

 Castle Rock. By the time we started homeward it was upon 

 us, making a harsh chatter as it struck the high rocks and 

 sweeping along the drift on the floe. 



The blow seems to have passed over to-night and the sky 

 is clear again, but I much fear the ice has gone out in the Strait. 

 There is an ominous black look to the westward. 



Sunday, April 30. — As I feared last night, the morning light 

 revealed the havoc made in the ice by yesterday's gale. From 

 Wind Vane Hill {66 feet) it appeared that the Strait had not 

 opened beyond the island, but after church I went up the Ramp 

 with Wilson and steadily climbed over the Glacier ice to a 

 height of about 650 feet. From this elevation one could see 

 that a broad belt of sea ice had been pushed bodily to sea- 

 ward, and it was evident that last night the whole stretch of 

 water from Hut Point to Turtle Island must have been open 

 — so that our poor people at Hut Point are just where they 

 were. 



The only comfort is that the Strait is already frozen again; 

 but what is to happen if every blow clears the sea like this? 



Had an interesting walk. One can go at least a mile up 

 the glacier slope before coming to crevasses, and it does not 

 appear that these would be serious for a good way farther. 

 The view is magnificent, and on a clear day like this, one still 

 enjoys some hours of daylight, or rather twilight, when it is 

 possible to see everything clearly. 



Have had talks of the curious cones which are such a feature 

 of the Ramp — they are certainly partly produced by ice and 

 partly by weathering. The ponds and various forms of ice 

 grains interest us. 



To-night have been naming all the small land features of our 

 vicinity. 



Tuesday, May 2. — It was calm yesterday. A balloon was 

 sent up in the morning, but only reached a mile in height before 

 the instrument was detached (by slow match). 



In the afternoon went out with Bowers and his pony to 

 pick up instrument, which was close to the shore in the South 



