igiij 



FINE WEATHER 263 



It Is very pleasant to note the excellent relations which our 

 young Russians have established with other folk; they both work 

 very hard, Anton having most to do. Demetri Is the more in- 

 telligent and begins to talk English fairly well. Both are on the 

 best terms with their mess-mates, and it was amusing last night 

 to see little Anton jamming a felt hat over P.O. Evans' head in 

 high good humour. 



Wright lectured on radium last night. 



The transformation of the radio-active elements suggestive 

 of the transmutation of metals was perhaps the most Interesting 

 Idea suggested, but the discussion ranged mainly round the effect 

 which the discovery of radio-activity has had on physics and 

 chemistry in Its bearing on the origin of matter, on geology as 

 bearing on the Internal heat of the earth, and on medicine in its 

 curative powers. The geologists and doctors admitted little 

 virtue to It, but of course the physicists boomed their own wares, 

 which enlivened the debate. 



Thursday, August 17. — The weather has been extremely kind 

 to us of late; we haven't a single grumble against it. The tem- 

 perature hovers pretty constantly at about -35°, there is very 

 little wind and the sky is clear and bright. In such weather one 

 sees well for more than three hours before and after noon, the 

 landscape unfolds itself, and the sky colours are always delicate 

 and beautiful. At noon to-day there was bright sunlight on the 

 tops of the Western Peaks and on the summit and steam of 

 Erebus — of late the vapour cloud of Erebus has been excep- 

 tionally heavy and fantastic in form. 



The balloon has become a daily institution. Yesterday the 

 Instrument was recovered In triumph, but to-day the threads 

 carried the searchers In amongst the icebergs and soared aloft 

 over their crests — anon the clue was recovered beyond, and led 

 towards Tent Island, then towards Inaccessible, then back 

 to the bergs. Never was such an elusive thread. Darkness 

 descended with the searchers on a strong scent for the Razor 

 Backs: Bowers returned full of hope. 



The wretched Lassie has killed every one of her litter. She 

 Is mother for the first time, and possibly that accounts for it. 

 When the poor little mites were alive she constantly left them, 

 and when taken back she either trod on them or lay on them, 

 till not one was left alive. It is extremely annoying. 



