I9II] SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS APPEAR 331 



diminution. Three more marches ought to bring us through. 

 With the seven crocks and the dog teams we must get through 

 I think. The men alone ought not to have heavy loads on the 

 surface, which is extremely trying. 



Nobby was tried in snowshoes this morning, and came along 

 splendidly on them for about four miles, then the wretched 

 affairs racked and had to be taken off. There is no doubt that 

 these snowshoes are the thing for ponies, and had ours been 

 able to use them from the beginning they would have been very 

 different in appearance at this moment. I think the sight of 

 land has helped the animals, but not much. We started in 

 bright warm sunshine and with the mountains wonderfully clear 

 on our right hand, but towards the end of the march clouds 

 worked up from the east and a thin broken cumulo-stratus now 

 overspreads the sky, leaving the land still visible but dull. A fine 

 glacier descends from Mount Longstaff. It has cut very deep 

 and the walls stand at an angle of at least 50°. Otherwise, 

 although there are many cwms on the lower ranges, the moun- 

 tains themselves seem little carved. They are rounded massive 

 structures. A cliff of light yellow-brown rock appears opposite 

 us, flanked with black or dark brown rock, which also appears 

 under the lighter colour. One would be glad to know what 

 nature of rock these represent. There is a good deal of ex- 

 posed rock on the next range also, 



Saturday, December 2. — Camp 28. Lat. 83°. Started under 

 very bad weather conditions. The stratus spreading over from 

 the S.E. last night meant mischief, and all day we marched In 

 falling snow with a horrible light. The ponies went poorly on 

 the first march, when there was little or no wind and a high 

 temperature. They were sinking deep on a wretched surface. I 

 suggested to Oates that he should have a roving commission 

 to watch the animals, but he much preferred to lead one, so I 

 handed over Snippets very willingly and went on ski myself. 

 It was very easy work for me and I took several photographs 

 of the ponies plunging along — the light very strong at 3 (Wat- 

 kins actinometer). The ponies did much better on the second 

 march, both surface and glide Improved; I went ahead and 

 found myself obliged to take a very steady pace to keep the lead, 

 so we arrived in camp in flourishing condition. Sad to have to 

 order Victor's end — poor Bowers feels It. He is In excellent 



