326 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [November 



Saturday, November 25. — Camp 21. The surface during 

 the first march was very heavy owing to a liberal coating of ice 

 crystals; it improved during the second march becoming quite 

 good towards the end (T. —2°). Now that it is pretty warm 

 at night it is obviously desirable to work towards day marching. 

 We shall start 2 hours later to-night and again to-morrow night. 



Last night we bade farewell to Day and Hooper and set 

 out with the new organisation (T. — 8^). All started together, 

 the man-haulers, Evans, Lashly, and Atkinson, going ahead 

 with their gear on the lo-ft. sledge. Chinaman and James Pigg 

 next, and the rest some ten minutes behind. We reached the 

 lunch camp together and started therefrom in the same order, 

 the two crocks somewhat behind, but not more than 300 yards 

 at the finish, so we all got into camp very satisfactorily together. 

 The men said the first march was extremely heavy (T. -\- 2°). 



The sun has been shining all night, but towards midnight 

 light mist clouds arose, half obscuring the leading parties. Land 

 can be dimly discerned nearly ahead. The ponies are slowly 

 tiring, but we lighten loads again to-morrow by making another 

 depot. Meares has just come up to report that Jehu made four 

 feeds for the dogs. He cut up very w^ell and had quite a lot of 

 fat on him. Meares says another pony will carry him to the 

 Glacier. This is very good hearing. The men are pulling with 

 ski sticks and say that they are a great assistance. I think of 

 taking them up the Glacier. Jehu has certainly come up trumps 

 after all, and Chinaman bids fair to be even more valuable. 

 Only a few more marches to feel safe in getting to our first 

 goal. 



Sunday, November 26. — Camp 22. Lunch camp. Marched 

 here fairly easily, comparatively good surface. Started at i A.M. 

 (midnight, local time). We now keep a steady pace of 2 miles 

 an hour, very good going. The sky was slightly overcast at 

 start and between two and three it grew very misty. Before 

 we camped we lost sight of the men-haulers only 300 yards 

 ahead. The sun is piercing the mist. Here in Lat. 81° 35' we 

 are leaving our ' Middle Barrier Depot,' one week for each re- 

 turning unit as at Mount Hooper. 



Camp 22. — Snow began falling during the second march; it 

 is blowing from the W.S.W., force 2 to 3, with snow pattering 

 on the tent, a kind of summery blizzard that reminds one of 



