i9] PONIES AND THEIR WAYS 71 



to start them, and when going they seem to appreciate the fact 

 that the sledges will overrun them should they hesitate or stop. 

 The result is that they are constantly fretful and the more ner- 

 vous ones tend to become refractory and unmanageable. 



Oates is splendid with them I do not know what we should 

 do without him. 



I did seven journeys with ponies and got off with a bump 

 on the head and some scratches. 



One pony got away from Debenham close to the ship, and 

 galloped the whole way in with its load behind; the load cap- 

 sized just off the shore and the animal and sledge dashed into 

 the station. Oates very wisely took this pony straight back for 

 another load. 



Two or three ponies got away as they were being har- 

 nessed, and careered up the hill again. In fact there were quite 

 a lot of minor incidents which seemed to endanger life and limb 

 to the animals if not the men, but which all ended safely. 



One of Meares' dog teams ran away one poor dog got 

 turned over at the start and couldn't get up again (Mukaka). 

 He was dragged at a gallop for nearly half a mile; I gave him 

 up as dead, but apparently he was very little hurt. 



The ponies are certainly going to keep things lively as time 

 goes on and they get fresher. Even as it is, their condition can't 

 be half as bad as we imagined; the runaway pony wasn't much 

 done even after the extra trip. 



The station is beginning to assume the appearance of an 

 orderly camp. We continue to find advantages in the situation; 

 the long level beach has enabled Bowers to arrange his stores in 

 the most systematic manner. Everything will be handy and there 

 will never be a doubt as to the position of a case when it is 

 wanted. The hut is advancing apace already the matchboard- 

 ing is being put on. The framework is being clothed. It should 

 be extraordinarily warm and comfortable, for in addition to 

 this double coating of insulation, dry seaweed in quilted sacking, 

 I propose to stack the pony fodder all around it. 



I am wondering how we shall stable the ponies in the winter. 



The only drawback to the present position is that the ice 

 is getting thin and sludgy in the cracks and on some of the floes. 

 The ponies drop their feet through, but most of them have 

 evidently been accustomed to something of the sort; they make 



