i9] PROVISION ALLOWANCE 119 



The Soldier takes a gloomy view of everything, but I've come 

 to see that this is a characteristic of him. In spite of it he pays 

 every attention to the weaker horses. 



We had frequent halts on the march, but managed 4 miles 

 before lunch and 2>V^ after. 



The temperature was 15 at the lunch camp. It was cold 

 sitting in the tent waiting for the ponies to rest. The ther- 

 mometer is now -7 , but there is a bright sun and no wind, 

 which makes the air feel quite comfortable : one's socks and 

 finnesko dry well. Our provision allowance is working out very 

 well. In fact all is well with us except the condition of the 

 ponies. The more I see of the matter the more certain I am 

 that we must save all the ponies to get better value out of them 

 next year. It would have been ridiculous to have worked some 

 out this year as the Soldier wished. Even now I feel we went 

 too far with the first three. 



One thing is certain. A good snow-shoe would be worth its 

 weight in gold on this surface, and if we can get something 

 really practical we ought to greatly increase our distances next 

 year. 



Mems. Storage of biscuit next year, lashing cases on 

 sledges. 



Look into sledgemeter. 



Picket lines for ponies. 



Food tanks to be size required. 



Two sledges altered to take steel runners. 



Stowage of pony food. Enough sacks for ready bags. 



Thursday, February 16. 6 miles 1450 yards. 15 Camp. 

 The surface a good deal better, but the ponies running out. 

 Three of the five could go on without difficulty. Bowers' pony 

 might go on a bit, but Weary Willy is a good deal done up, 

 and to push him further would be to risk him unduly, so to- 

 morrow we turn. The temperature on the march to-night fell 

 to -21 with a brisk S.W. breeze. Bowers started out as usual 

 in his small felt hat, ears uncovered. Luckily I called a halt 

 after a mile and looked at him. His ears were quite white. 

 Cherry and I nursed them back whilst the patient seemed to feel 

 nothing but intense surprise and disgust at the mere fact of pos- 

 sessing such unruly organs. Oates' nose gave great trouble. I 

 got frostbitten'on the cheek lightly, as also did Cherry-Garrard. 



