19031 THE WESTERN JOURNEY 99 



Glacier ; but, in order to see its details more clearly, the 

 officers were obliged to leave the camp and travel some 

 distance to a more elevated position. On reaching this, they 

 looked directly down on the Ferrar Glacier, and saw that it 

 wound its way between high rocky cliffs far to the inland ; but 

 the prospect of reaching this and of travelling on its surface 

 did not at this time look hopeful. 



To quote Armitage's report : * After putting on the rope, 

 which Koettlitz held, I went as close to the edge of the slope 

 overlooking the pass as possible. It certainly did not look 

 promising. Unfortunately, I could not see its juncture with 

 the glacier. After consulting Dr. Koettlitz, I came to the 

 conclusion that it would be best to seek a passage across 

 the western range. . . . If we find it impossible to drag 

 the sledges over the mountains, we must try the glacier, 

 although Koettlitz considers that it would be madness to 

 attempt it.' This was an unfortunate decision, and delayed 

 the party greatly. It appears that in addition to the uncertainty 

 of the steep road which led to it, the observers on this occasion 

 were very distrustful of the appearance of the glacier itself ; 

 the blue ice, with no snow on its surface, apparently promised 

 great dangers and difficulties. However, the decision being 

 made, on the loth the parties separated, the supports turning 

 towards the ship, whilst the main party continued to ascend 

 the rising snow-slopes which led towards the higher mountains. 



The slopes quickly increased in gradient, and the ascent 

 became the most arduous and toilsome work. Armitage's 

 report says : * The following was our mode of procedure : two 

 men carried the crowbar and two ice-axes up the slope to the 

 available length of rope (about 180 feet). The crowbar was 

 then driven into the ice, and the ice-axes served as a backing ; 

 a strong lashing connected the three. A small tailed block 

 was made fast to the crowbar, the Alpine rope rove through it, 

 and the other end made fast to a sledge. Eight hands then 

 walked downwards with the upper end of the rope, hauling 

 the sledge upwards as they did so ; two men guided the up- 

 going sledge, and when it arrived at the top it was secured, 



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