8o SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [January 



dog teams were hard at it all the forenoon. I ran six jour- 

 neys with five dogs, driving them in the Siberian fashion for 

 the first time. It was not difficult, but I kept forgetting the 

 Russian words at critical moments : ' Ki ' ' right ' ; ' Tchui ' 

 ' left ' ; ' Itah ' ' right ahead ' ; [here is a blank in memory 

 and in diary] ' get along ' ; ' Paw ' stop.' Even my short 

 experience makes me think that we may have to reorganise this 

 driving to suit our particular requirements. I am inclined for 

 smaller teams and the driver behind the sledge. However, it's 

 early days to decide such matters, and we shall learn much on 

 the depot journey. 



Early in the afternoon a message came from the ship to say 

 that all stores had been landed. Nothing remains to be brought 

 but mutton, books and pictures, and the pianola. So at last 

 we really are a self-contained party ready for all emergencies. 

 We are landed eight days after our arrival^a very good 

 record. 



The hut could be inhabited at this moment, but probably 

 we shall not begin to live in it for a week. Meanwhile the 

 carpenter will go on steadily fitting up the dark room and various 

 other compartments as well as Simpson's Corner.* 



The grotto party are making headway into the ice for our 

 larder, but it is slow and very arduous work. However, once 

 made it will be admirable in every way. 



To-morrow we begin sending ballast off to the ship; some 

 30 tons will be sledged off by the ponies. The hut and grotto 

 parties will continue, and the arrangements for the depot jour- 

 ney will be commenced. I discussed these with Bowers this 

 afternoon he is a perfect treasure, enters into one's ideas at 

 once, and evidently thoroughly understands the principles of the 

 game. 



I have arranged to go to Hut Point with Meares and some 

 dogs to-morrow to test the ice and see how the land lies. As 

 things are at present we ought to have little difficulty in getting 

 the depot party away any time before the end of the month, 

 but the ponies will have to cross the Cape f without loads. 

 There is a way down on the south side straight across, and 

 another way round, keeping the land on the north side and 



* Here were the meteorological instruments. 



t Cape Evans, which lay on the S. side of the new hut. 



