54 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Dec. 



it by many miles and be able to examine it with care, we 

 should never know definitely what lay beyond. We felt that 

 it was the most southerly land to which we should be able to 

 apply a name, and we thought that the fine peak which for the 

 present must remain the southerly outpost of all known lands 

 could bear no more fitting title than one derived from the con- 

 tributor whose generous donation had alone made our 

 expedition possible. On the night of the 26th, therefore, we 

 christened this distant peak ' Mount Longstaff,' but it was only 

 on our return to the ship that I was able to fix its position as 

 well beyond the 83rd parallel. 



From a point of view of further exploration our position 

 on the 26th did not promise great things. On our right lay 

 the high undulating snow-cap and the steep irregular coast- 

 line ; to the south lay a cape, beyond which we could not hope 

 to pass ; and to all appearance these conditions must remain 

 unaltered to the end of our journey. We argued, however, 

 that one never knows what may turn up, and we determined, 

 in spite of the unpromising outlook, to push on to our utmost 

 limit. As events proved, we argued most wisely, for had we 

 turned at this point we should have missed one of the most 

 important features of the whole coastline ; it was only one 

 more instance of the happening of the unexpected. 



In spite of the comforting nature of our Christmas festivi- 

 ties, worry was never long absent from what was now becoming 

 rather a forlorn party, as the following extract shows : 



' December 26. — . . . Poor Wilson has had an attack of 

 snow-blindness, in comparison with which our former attacks 

 may be considered as nothing ; we were forced to camp early 

 on account of it, and during the whole afternoon he has been 

 writhing in horrible agony. It is distressing enough to see, 

 knowing that one can do nothing to help. Cocaine has only 

 a very temporary effect, and in the end seems to make matters 

 worse. I have never seen an eye so terribly bloodshot and 

 inflamed as that which is causing the trouble, and the inflam- 

 mation has spread to the eyelid. He describes the worst part 

 as an almost intolerable stabbing and burning of the eyeball ; 



