'9] TEA VERSUS COCOA 201 



equivalent of Mr. Joule, a gentleman whose statements he had 

 no reason to doubt.' 



Wilson was the mainstay of the subsequent discussion and 

 put all doubtful matters in a clearer light. ' Increase your fats 

 (carbohydrate)' is what science seems to say, and practice with 

 conservativism is inclined to step cautiously in response to this 

 urgence. I shall, of course, go into the whole question as thor- 

 oughly as available information and experience permits. Mean- 

 while it is useful to have had a discussion which aired the 

 popular opinions. 



Feeling went deepest on the subject of tea versus cocoa; 

 admitting all that can be said concerning stimulation and re- 

 action, I am inclined to see much in favour of tea. Why should 

 not one be mildly stimulated during the marching hours if one 

 can cope with reaction by profounder rest during the hours of 

 inaction? 



Sunday, May 28. Quite an excitement last night. One of 

 the ponies (the grey which I led last year and salved from the 

 floe) either fell or tried to lie down in his stall, his head being 

 lashed up to the stanchions on either side. In this condition he 

 struggled and kicked till his body was twisted right round and 

 his attitude extremely uncomfortable. Very luckily his struggles 

 were heard almost at once, and his head ropes being cut, Oates 

 got him on his feet again. He looked a good deal distressed 

 at the time, but is now quite well again and has been out for his 

 usual exercise. 



Held Service as usual. 



This afternon went on ski around the bay and back across. 

 Little or no wind; sky clear, temperature 25 . It was wonder- 

 fully mild considering the temperature this sounds paradoxical, 

 but the sensation of cold does not conform to the thermometer 

 it is obviously dependent on the wind and less obviously on 

 the humidity of the air and the ice crystals floating in it. I 

 cannot very clearly account for this effect, but as a matter of 

 fact I have certainly felt colder in still air at - io than I did 

 to-day when the thermometer was down to -25 , other con- 

 ditions apparently equal. 



The amazing circumstance is that by no means can we 

 measure the humidity, or indeed the precipitation or evaporation. 

 I have just been discussing with Simpson the insuperable diffi- 



