ON POLAR CLOTHING 277 



son, Bowers, and I are going to stretch our legs across to the 

 Western Mountains. There is no choice but to keep the rest 

 at home to exercise the ponies. It's not going to be a light 

 task to keep all these frisky little beasts in order, as their food 

 is increased. To-day the change in masters has taken place: 

 by the new arrangement 



Wilson takes Nobby 

 Cherry-Garrard takes Michael 

 Wright takes Chinaman 

 Atkinson takes Jehu. 



The new comers seem very pleased with their animals, though 

 they are by no means the pick of the bunch. 



Sunday, September 3. The weather still remains fine, the 

 temperature down in the minus thirties. All going well and 

 everyone in splendid spirits. Last night Bowers lectured on 

 Polar clothing. He had worked the subject up from our Polar 

 library with critical and humorous ability, and since his recent 

 journey he must be considered as entitled to an authoritative 

 opinion of his own. The points in our clothing problems are 

 too technical and too frequently discussed to need special notice 

 at present, but as a result of a new study of Arctic precedents 

 it is satisfactory to find it becomes more and more evident that 

 our equipment is the best that has been devised for the purpose, 

 always excepting the possible alternative of skins for spring 

 journeys, an alternative we have no power to adopt. In spite 

 of this we are making minor improvements all the time. 



Sunday, September 10. A whole week since the last entry 

 in my diary. I feel very negligent of duty, but my whole time 

 has been occupied in making detailed plans for the Southern 

 journey. These are finished at last, I am glad to say; every 

 figure has been checked by Bowers, who has been an enormous 

 help to me. If the motors are successful, we shall have no 

 difficulty in getting to the Glacier, and if they fail, we shall 

 still get there with any ordinary degree of good fortune. To 

 work three units of four men from that point onwards requires 

 no small provision, but with the proper provision it should take 

 a good deal to stop the attainment of our object. I have tried 

 to take every reasonable possibility of misfortune into con- 

 sideration, and to so organise the parties as to be prepared to 



