1903] SCURVY AGAIN 75 



a full three weeks' provisions, and it looks as though we 

 should not have great difficulties with our load, now that we 

 are on wood runners. On the other hand, I am not altogether 

 satisfied with the state of our health. There is no doubt that 

 we are not as fit as we were : we are all a bit "done." In 

 Shackleton's case especially I feel uneasy ; his scorbutic signs 

 are increasing, and he was again terribly done up when we 

 camped to-night. All things considered, without knowledge 

 of what may be before us, it is safer not to increase our food 

 allowance for the present, more especially as in going north 

 I want to steer inwards so as to examine more closely those 

 masses of land which we have seen only in the far distance. 

 But in spite of all, our circumstances are very different to-night 

 from what they were last night ; the finding of the depot has 

 lifted a load of anxiety, and I think we shall all sleep the 

 better for it. 



'We are all terrible- looking ruffians now; the sun has 

 burnt us quite black, and for many days our only bit of soap 

 has remained untouched. It is some time, too, since we 

 clipped our beards, and our hair has grown uncomfortably 

 long ; our faces have developed new lines and wrinkles, and 

 look haggard and worn — in fact, our general appearance and 

 tattered clothing have been a source of some amusement to 

 us of late.' 



^January 14. — This morning we had a thorough medical 

 examination, and the result was distinctly unsatisfactory. 

 Shackleton has very angry-looking gums — swollen and dark ; 

 he is also suffering greatly from shortness of breath ; his throat 

 seems to be congested, and he gets fits of coughing, when he 

 is obliged to spit, and once or twice to-day he has spat blood. 

 I myself have distinctly red gums, and a very slight swelling in 

 the ankles. Wilson's gums are affected in one spot, where 

 there is a large plum-coloured lump ; otherwise he seems free 

 from symptoms. Both he and I feel quite fit and well, and as 

 far as we are concerned I think a breakdown is very far 

 removed. 



'Early this morning we reorganised our load, dropping 



