62 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [January 



a solid wharf on which to land our stores. We made fast with 

 ice anchors. Wilson, Evans, and I went to the Cape, which I 

 had now rechristened Cape Evans in honour of our excellent 

 second in command. A glance at the land showed, as we ex- 

 pected, ideal spots for our wintering station. The rock of the 

 Cape consists mainly of volcanic agglomerate with olivine kenyte; 

 it is much weathered and the destruction had formed quantities 

 of coarse sand. We chose a spot for the hut on a beach facing 

 N.W. and well protected by numerous small hills behind. This 

 spot seems to have all the local advantages (which I must detail 

 later) for a winter station, and we realised that at length our 

 luck had turned. The most favourable circumstance of all is 

 the stronge chance of communication with Cape Armitage being 

 established at an early date. 



It was in connection with this fact that I had had such a 

 strong desire to go to Mount Terror, and such misgivings if 

 we had been forced to go to Cape Royds. It is quite evident 

 that the ice south of Cape Royds does not become secure till 

 late in the season, probably in May. Before that, all evidence 

 seems to show that the part between Cape Royds and Cape 

 Barne is continually going out. How, I ask myself, was our 

 depot party to get back to home quarters? I feel confident we 

 can get to the new spot we have chosen at a comparatively early 

 date; it will probably only be necessary to cross the sea ice in 

 the deep bays north and south of the Glacier Tongue, and the 

 ice rarely goes out of there after it has first formed. Even if 

 it should, both stages can be seen before the party ventures 

 upon them. 



After many frowns fortune has treated us to the kindest 

 smile for twenty-four hours we have had a calm with brilliant 

 sunshine. Such weather in such a place comes nearer to satis- 

 fying my ideal of perfection than any condition that I have ever 

 experienced. The warm glow of the sun with the keen invigor- 

 ating cold of the air forms a combination which is inexpressibly 

 health-giving and satisfying to me, whilst the golden light on 

 this wonderful scene of mountain and ice satisfies every claim of 

 scenic magnificence. No words of mine can convey the impres- 

 siveness of the wonderful panorama displayed to our eyes. 

 Ponting is enraptured and uses expressions which in anyone else 

 and alluding to any other subject might be deemed extravagant. 



