216 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [June 



Tuesday, June 13. A very beautiful day. We revelled in 

 the calm clear moonlight; the temperature has fallen to 26 . 

 The surface of the floe perfect for ski had a run to South Bay 

 in forenoon and was away on a long circuit around Inaccessible 

 Island in the afternoon. In such weather the cold splendour of 

 the scene is beyond description; everything is satisfying, from 

 the deep purple of the starry sky to the gleaming bergs and the 

 sparkle of the crystals under foot. 



Some very brilliant patches of aurora over the southern 

 shoulder of the mountain. Observed an exceedingly bright 

 meteor shoot across the sky to the northward. 



On my return found Debenham and Gran back from Cape 

 Armitage. They had intended to start back on Sunday, but were 

 prevented by bad weather; they seemed to have had stronger 

 winds than we. 



On arrival at the hut they found poor little ' Mukaka ' coiled 

 up outside the door, looking pitifully thin and weak, but with 

 enough energy to bark at them. 



This dog was run over and dragged for a long way under 

 the sledge runners whilst we were landing stores in January 

 (the 7th). He has never been worth much since, but remained 

 lively in spite of all the hardships of sledging work. At Hut 

 Point he looked a miserable object, as the hair refused to grow 

 on his hindquarters. It seemed as though he could scarcely con- 

 tinue in such a condition, and when the party came back to Cape 

 Evans he was allowed to run free alongside the sledge. 



On the arrival of the party I especially asked after the little 

 animal and was told by Demetri that he had returned, but later 

 it transpired that this was a mistake that he had been missed 

 on the journey and had not turned up again later as was supposed. 



I learned this fact only a few days ago and had quite given 

 up the hope of ever seeing the poor little beast again. It is 

 extraordinary to realise that this poor, lame, half-clad animal 

 has lived for a whole month by himself. He had blood on his 

 mouth when found, implying the capture of a seal, but how he 

 managed to kill it and then get through its skin is beyond com- 

 prehension. Hunger drives hard. 



Wednesday, June 14. Storms are giving us little rest. We 

 found a thin stratus over the sky this morning, foreboding ill. 

 The wind came, as usual with a rush, just after lunch. At first 



