82 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [January 



thing will be tending towards sledging preparations. I have 

 also been discussing and writing about the provisions of animals 

 to be brought down in the Terra Nova next year. 



The wind is very persistent from the S.S.E., rising and 

 falling; to-night it has sprung up again, and is rattling the 

 canvas of the tent. 



Some of the ponies are not turning out so well as I ex- 

 pected; they are slow walkers and must inevitably impede the 

 faster ones. Two of the best had been told off for Campbell 

 by Oates, but I must alter the arrangement. ' Then I am not 

 quite sure they are going to stand the cold well, and on this 

 first journey they may have to face pretty severe conditions. 

 Then, of course, there is the danger of losing them on thin 

 ice or by injury sustained in rough places. Although we have 

 fifteen now (two having gone for the Eastern Party) it is not 

 at all certain that we shall have such a number when the main 

 journey is undertaken next season. One can only be careful 

 and hope for the best.' 



Sunday, January 15. We had decided to observe this day 

 as a ' day of rest,' and so it has been. 



At one time or another the majority have employed their 

 spare hours in writing letters. 



We rose late, having breakfast at nine. The morning 

 promised well and the day fulfilled the promise : we had bright 

 sunshine and practically no wind. 



At 10 A.M. the men and officers streamed over from the 

 ship, and we all assembled on the beach and I read Divine 

 Service, our first Service at the camp and impressive in the 

 open air. After Service I told Campbell that I should have to 

 cancel his two ponies and give him two others. He took it 

 like the gentleman he is, thoroughly appreciating the reason. 



He had asked me previously to be allowed to go to Cape 

 Royds over the glacier and I had given permission. After 

 our talk we went together to explore the route, which we ex- 

 pected to find much crevassed. I only intended to go a short 

 way, but on reaching the snow above the uncovered hills of 

 our Cape I found the surface so promising and so free from 

 cracks that I went quite a long way. Eventually I turned, 

 leaving Campbell, Gran, and Nelson roped together and on 

 ski to make their way onward, but not before I felt certain that 



