14 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Nov. 



weights till after our departure from Depot ' A,' and from that 

 spot we proposed to assist by pulling ourselves ; it may be of 

 some interest, therefore, to note the weights which we actually 

 dragged. 



The table given on page 1 5 was one of a number of sheets 

 which I prepared in order that we might know at each place 

 exactly how we stood, and it seemed to simplify matters to draw 

 rough diagrams of the sledges on the margin. The total of 

 1,850 lbs. was of course a heavy load for our team of nineteen, 

 especially as the team possessed a few animals which were ot 

 little account ; but it must be remembered that we expected to 

 pull ourselves, and that each night, after the first start, would 

 see a reduction of between thirty and forty pounds by the time 

 all creature comforts had been attended to. 



The load here shown allows for nine weeks only for our own 

 food, and it was in order that we might increase this allowance 

 to thirteen that the supporting party was arranged to accompany 

 us for some part of our journey. 



On the afternoon of the nth the supporting party hove in 

 sight, and we were soon busily engaged in arranging matters 

 for an early start on the morrow. 



The 1 2th proved a misty, raw, cold day — not a happy omen 

 for our start — but we got away betimes, and with a cheer set 

 off for the first time on a due south course. The dogs were in 

 such high feather that they quickly caught up the men, and 

 little by little we had to increase their load until they were 

 drawing no less than 2,100 lbs. When we camped for the 

 night we had made i ij miles, and, in the slightly misty weather, 

 already appeared to be lost on the great open plain. I note in 

 my diary : ' The feeling at first is somewhat weird ; there is 

 absolutely nothing to break the grey monotone about us, and 

 yet we knov/ that the mist is not thick, but that our isolation 

 comes from the immense expanse of the plain. The excellent 

 pulling of the dogs is likely to modify our plans, and I think 

 of sending half the supports back to-morrow.' 



' November 13. — Sights to-day showed us to be nearly up to 

 the 79th parallel, and therefore farther south than anyone has 



