3IO SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [November 



march that follows is pleasant when, as to-day, the wind falls 

 and the sun steadily increases its heat. The two parties in front 

 of us camped 5 miles beyond Safety Camp, and we reached their 

 camp some half or three-quarters of an hour later. All the 

 ponies are tethered in good order, but most of them are tired 

 — Chinaman and Jehu very tired. Nearly all are inclined to be 

 off feed, but this is very temporary, I think. We have built 

 walls, but there is no wind and the sun gets warmer every 

 minute. 



Mirage. — Very marked waving effect to east. Small objects 

 greatly exaggerated and showing as dark vertical lines. 



I P.M. — Feeding time. Woke the party, and Oates served 

 out the rations — all ponies feeding well. It is a sweltering day, 

 the air breathless, the glare intense — one loses sight of the fact 

 that the temperature is low (—22°) — one's mind seeks com- 

 parison in hot sunlit streets and scorching pavements, yet six 

 hours ago my thumb was frostbitten. All the inconveniences 

 of frozen footwear and damp clothes and sleeping-bags have 

 vanished entirely. 



A petrol tin is near the camp and a note stating that the 

 motor passed at 9 p.m. 28th, going strong — they have 4 to 5 

 days' lead and should surely keep it. 



' Bones has eaten Christopher's goggles.' 



This announcement by Crean, meaning that Bones had de- 

 molished the protecting fringe on Christopher's bridle. These 

 fringes promise very well — Christopher without his is blinking 

 in the hot sun. 



Saturday, November 4. — Camp 2. Led march — started in 

 what I think will now become the settled order. Atkinson went 

 at 8, ours at 10, Bowers, Oates and Co. at 11. 15. Just after 

 starting picked up cheerful note and saw cheerful notices saying 

 all well with motors, both going excellently. Day wrote ' Hope 

 to meet in 80° 30' (Lat. ).' Poor chap, within 2 miles he must 

 have had to sing a different tale. It appears they had a bad 

 ground on the morning of the 29th. I suppose the surface was 

 bad and everything seemed to be going wrong. They ' dumped ' 

 a good deal of petrol and lubricant. Worse was to follow. Some 

 4 miles out we met a tin pathetically inscribed, ' Big end Day's 

 motor No. 2 cylinder broken.' Half a mile beyond, as I ex- 

 pected, we found the motor, its tracking sledges and all. Notes 



I 



