270 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [August 



afternoon Evans caught a last glimpse of the upper limb from 

 that situation, whilst Simpson saw the same from Wind Vane 

 Hill. 



The ponies are very buckish and can scarcely be held in at 

 exercise; it seems certain that they feel the return of daylight. 

 They were out in morning and afternoon yesterday. Oates and 

 Anton took out Christopher and Snippets rather later. Both 

 ponies broke away within 50 yards of the stable and galloped 

 away over the floe. It was nearly an hour before they could 

 be rounded up. Such escapades are the result of high spirits; 

 there is no vice in the animals. 



We have had comparatively little aurora of late, but last 

 night was an exception; there was a good display at 3 A.M. 



P.M. — Just before lunch the sunshine could be seen gilding 

 the floe, and Ponting and I walked out to the bergs. The 

 nearest one has been overturned and is easily climbed. From 

 the top we could see the sun clear over the rugged outline of C. 

 Barne. It was glorious to stand bathed in brilliant sunshine 

 once more. We felt very young, sang and cheered — we were re- 

 minded of a bright frosty morning in England — everything 

 sparkled and the air had the same crisp feel. There is little 

 new to be said of the return of the sun in polar regions, yet it 

 is such a very real and important event that one cannot pass 

 it in silence. It changes the outlook on life of every individual, 

 foul weather is robbed of its terrors; if it is stormy to-day it will 

 be fine to-morrow or the next day, and each day's delay will 

 mean a brighter outlook when the sky is clear. 



Climbed the Ramp in the afternoon, the shouts and songs 

 of men and the neighing of horses borne to my ears as I clam- 

 bered over its kopjes. 



We are now pretty well convinced that the Ramp is a mo- 

 raine resting on a platform of ice. 



The sun rested on the sunshine recorder for a few minutes, 

 but made no visible impression. We did not get our first record 

 in the Discovery until September. It is surprising that so little 

 heat should be associated with such a flood of light. 



Sunday, August 27. — Overcast sky and chill south-easterly 

 wind. Sunday routine, no one very active. Had a run to 

 South Bay over ' Domain.' 



Monday, August 28. — Ponting and Gran went round the 



