230 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Dfx. 



the heat of the tent. The temperature had been extra- 

 ordinarily high, sometimes rising to 35° or 36°, and when the 

 sun shone on the dark canvas of the tent a few found the 

 interior so oppressive that they sought outside shelter in the 

 smaller sledging tents, or spread their sleeping-bags on a piece 

 of canvas in the open. 



Thirty people were at the camp when we arrived. They 

 were divided into three parties of ten, which relieved one 

 another on the saws. The work on the latter was exceedingly 

 heavy, so that a four-hour spell was quite sufficient for one 

 party. It took them twenty minutes to get to their work, and 

 another twenty to get back to the tent when they were 

 relieved ; then, after cooking and eating a meal, they would 

 coil down for five or six hours, and rise in tmie for a fresh 

 meal before the next spell of work. With three parties work- 

 ing in this manner the preparation of meals practically never 

 ceased throughout the twenty-four hours, and cook succeeded 

 cook at the small range. Luckily this was a land of plenty. 

 The tent lay within 200 yards of the largest of the islets, where 

 the working of the ice formed spaces of open water through 

 which hundreds of seals rose to bask on the floe. Now and 

 again also a small troop of Ad^lie penguins would hurry 

 towards the tent full of curiosity — to find their way promptly 

 into the cooking-pot. Every other day the dog sledge came 

 from the ship laden with flour, biscuit, sugar, butter, and jam, 

 so that supplies of all sorts were readily available — and con- 

 stant supplies were very much needed, as my earliest impres- 

 sions of the camp assured me. 



' It is a real treat to be amongst our people once more and 

 to find them in such splendid condition and spirits. I do not 

 think there is a whole garment in the party ; judging by the 

 torn and patched clothing, they might be the veriest lot of 

 tramps, but one would have to go far to find such sturdy 

 tramps. Everyone is burnt to a deep bronze colour by the 

 sun, but in each dark face one has not to wait long for the 

 smiles which show the white of teeth and clear healthy eyes. 

 I have been sitting on a packing-case with everyone trying to 



