22 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Nov. 



Though it was only gradually that we could convince our- 

 selves that the dog-food was at the bottom of our trouble, 

 subsequent events proved it beyond a doubt, and therefore it 

 may be of interest to give some account of that food. Originally, 

 I had intended to take ordinary dog-biscuits for our animals, 

 but in an evil moment I was persuaded by one who had had 

 great experience in dog-driving to take fish. Fish has been 

 used continually in the north for feeding dogs, and the 

 particular article which we ordered was the Norwegian stock- 

 fish such as is split, dried, and exported from that country in 

 great quantities for human food. There is no doubt about the 

 excellent food-value of this fish, and in every way it seemed 

 well adapted to our purpose ; and yet it was this very fish that 

 poisoned our poor animals. 



It is easy to be wise after the event, and on looking 

 back now one sees the great probability of its suffering 

 deterioration on passage through the Tropics, and, doubtless, 

 had it been designed for human food we should have considered 

 that point ; but, unfortunately for our dogs, this probabiHty 

 escaped our notice, and as there was no outward sign of 

 deterioration it was carried on our sledge journey. As a result 

 the dogs sickened, and in some cases died, from what one can 

 only suppose was a species of scurvy. The lesson to future 

 travellers in the South is obvious, in that they should safe- 

 guard their dogs as surely as they do their men. The dog is 

 such a terrible scavenger that one is apt to overlook this 

 necessity. 



''November 21. — This morning the sun was shining in a 

 cloudless sky, and to our surprise we found land extending all 

 along our right ; probably it appears deceptively close owing to 

 the mirage. At any rate, things are growing so bad that we 

 have decided to edge towards it, and have altered our course 

 to S.S.W. All things considered, this seems the best course, as 

 our prospect of reaching a high latitude is steadily melting 

 away. Our method of advance gives us at least the advantage 

 of gauging the level nature of the surface over which we are 

 traveUing. To judge by one's feelings on the march, one might 



