222 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION Uune 



exercised, weather permitting; this employs all the men and a 

 few of the officers for an hour or more — the rest of us generally 

 take exercise in some form at the same time. After this the 

 officers go on steadily with their work, whilst the men do odd 

 jobs to while away the time. The evening meal, our dinner, 

 comes at 6.30, and is finished within the hour. Afterwards peo- 

 ple read, write, or play games, or occasionally finish some piece 

 of work. The gramophone is usually started by some kindly 

 disposed person, and on three nights of the week the lectures to 

 which I have referred are given. These lectures still command 

 full audiences and lively discussions. 



At 1 1 P.M. the acetylene lights are put out, and those who 

 wish to remain up or to read in bed must depend on candle-light. 

 The majority of candles are extinguished by midnight, and the 

 night Vv-atchman alone remains awake to keep his vigil by the 

 light of an oil lamp. 



Day after day passes in this fashion. It is not a very active 

 life perhaps, but certainly not an idle one. Few of us sleep more 

 than eight hours out of the twenty-four. 



On Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning some extra bath- 

 ing takes place; chins are shaven, and perhaps clean garments 

 donned. Such signs, with the regular Service on Sunday, mark 

 the passage of the weeks. 



To-night Day has given us a lecture on his motor sledge. 

 He seems very hopeful of success, but I fear is rather more san- 

 guine in temperament than his sledge is reliable in action. I 

 wish I could have more confidence in his preparations, as he is 

 certainly a delightful companion. 



Tuesday, June 20. — Last night the temperature fell to - 36°, 

 the lowest we have had this year. On the Ramp the minimum 

 was -31°, not the first indication of a reversed temperature 

 gradient. We have had a calm day, as is usual with a low 

 thermometer. 



It was very beautiful out of doors this morning; as the 

 crescent moon was sinking in the west, Erebus showed a heavy 

 vapour cloud, showing that the quantity is affected by tempera- 

 ture rather than pressure. 



I'm glad to have had a good run on ski. 



The Cape Crozier party are preparing for departure, and 

 heads have iDeen put together to provide as much comfort as the 



