224 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [June 



The Crozier journey is to be made to serve a good many 

 trial ends. As I have already mentioned, each man is to go on 

 a different food scale, with a view to determining the desirable 

 proportion of fats and carbohydrates. Wilson is also to try 

 the effect of a double wind-proof suit instead of extra woollen 

 clothing. 



If two suits of wind-proof will keep one as warm in the 

 spring as a single suit does in the summer, it is evident that 

 we can face the summit of Victoria Land with a very slight 

 increase of weight. 



I think the new crampons, which will also be tried on this 

 journey, are going to be a great success. We have returned to 

 the last Discovery type with improvements; the magnalium sole 

 plates of our own crampons are retained but shod with ^-inch 

 steel spikes; these plates are rivetted through canvas to an inner 

 leather sole, and the canvas is brought up on all sides to form 

 a covering to the ' finnesko ' over which it is laced they are less 

 than half the weight of an ordinary ski boot, go on very easily, 

 and secure very neatly. 



Midwinter Day, the turn of the season, is very close; it 

 will be good to have light for the more active preparations for 

 the coming year. 



Wednesday, June 21. The temperature low again, falling to 

 36 . A curious hazy look in the sky, very little wind. The 

 cold is bringing some minor troubles with the clockwork instru- 

 ments in the open and with the acetylene gas plant no insuper- 

 able difficulties. Went for a ski run round the bergs; found it 

 very dark and uninteresting. 



The temperature remained low during night and Taylor re- 

 ported a very fine display of Aurora. 



Thursday, June 22. Midwinter. The sun reached its 

 maximum depression at about 2.30 p.m. on the 22nd, Green- 

 wich Mean Time: this is 2.30 A.M. on the 23rd according to the 

 local time of the 180th meridian which we are keeping. Dinner 

 to-night is therefore the meal which is nearest the sun's critical 

 change of course, and has been observed with all the festivity 

 customary at Xmas at home. 



At tea we broached an enormous Buzzard cake, with much 

 gratitude to its provider, Cherry-Garrard. In preparation for 

 the evening our ' Union Jacks ' and sledge flags were hung about 



