191 1] DAILY REST IN THE SUN 323 



lying hard patches appear as before to have been formed by a 

 W.S.W. wind, but there are some surface waves pointing to a 

 recent south-easterly wind. Have been taking some photo- 

 graphs, Bowers also. 



Monday, November 20. — Camp 16. The surface a little 

 better. Sastrugi becoming more and more definite from S.E. 

 Struck a few hard patches which made me hopeful of much 

 better things, but these did not last long. The crocks still go. 

 Jehu seems even a little better than yesterday, and will certainly 

 go another march. Chinaman reported bad the first half march, 

 but bucked up the second. The dogs found the surface heavy. 

 To-morrow I propose to relieve them of a forage bag. The sky 

 was slightly overcast during the march, with radiating cirro- 

 stratus S.S.W.-N.N.E. Now very clear and bright again. 

 Temp, at night — 14°, now + 4°- A very slight southerly breeze, 

 from which the walls protect the animals well. I feel sure that 

 the long day's rest in the sun is very good for all of them. 



Our ponies marched very steadily last night. They seem 

 to take the soft crusts and difficult plodding surface more easily. 

 The loss of condition is not so rapid as noticed to One Ton 

 Camp, except perhaps in Victor, who is getting to look very 

 gaunt. Nobby seems fitter and stronger than when he started; 

 he alone is ready to go all his feed at any time and as much 

 more as he can get. The rest feel fairly well, but they are getting 

 a very big strong ration. I am beginning to feel more hopeful 

 about them. Christopher kicked the bow of his sledge in towards 

 the end of the march. He must have a lot left in him though. 



Tuesday, November 21. — Camp 17. Lat. 80° 35'. The 

 surface decidedly better and the ponies very steady on the march. 

 None seem overtired, and now it is impossible not to take a 

 hopeful view of their prospect of pulling through. (Temp. 

 - 14°, night.) The only circumstance to be feared is a re- 

 version to bad surfaces, and that ought not to happen on this 

 course. We marched to the usual lunch camp and saw a large 

 cairn ahead. Two miles beyond we came on the Motor Party 

 in Lat. 80° 32'. We learned that they had been waiting for six 

 days. They all look very fit, but declare themselves to be very 

 hungry. This is interesting as showing conclusively that a ration 

 amply sufficient for the needs of men leading ponies is quite in- 

 sufficient for men doing hard pulling work; it therefore fully 



