

i 9 ii] PROGRESS OF THE MOTORS 305 



account of his slower speed, he also now took the slope without 

 hitch and got a last handshake as he clattered forward. His 

 engine was not working so well as the other, but I think mainly 

 owing to the first overheating and a want of adjustment result- 

 ing therefrom. 



Thus the motors left us, travelling on the fcest surface they 

 have yet encountered hard windswept snow without sastrugi 

 a surface which Meares reports to extend to Corner Camp at 

 least. 



Providing there is no serious accident,, the engine troubles 

 will gradually be got over; of that I feel pretty confident. 

 Every day will see improvement as it has done to date, every 

 day the men will get greater confidence with larger experience 

 of the machines and the conditions. But it is not easy to foretell 

 the extent of the result of older and earlier troubles with the 

 rollers. The new rollers turned up by Day are already split- 

 ting, and one of Lashly's chains is in a bad way; it may be 

 possible to make temporary repairs good enough to cope with 

 the improved surface, but it seems probable that Lashly's car 

 will not get very far. 



It is already evident that had the rollers been metal cased 

 and the runners metal covered, they would now be as good as 

 new. I cannot think why we had not the sense to have this done. 

 As things are I am satisfied we have the right men to deal with 

 the difficulties of the situation. 



The motor programme is not of vital importance to our plan 

 and it is possible the machines will do little to help us, but already 

 they have vindicated themselves. Even the seamen, who have 

 remained very sceptical of them, have been profoundly im- 

 pressed. Evans said, ' Lord, sir, I reckon if them things can 

 go on like that you wouldn't want nothing else ' but like every- 

 thing else of a novel nature, it is the actual sight of them at work 

 that is impressive, and nothing short of a hundred miles over 

 the Barrier will carry conviction to outsiders. 



Parting with the motors, we made haste back to Hut Point 

 and had tea there. My feet had got very sore with the unac- 

 customed soft foot-gear and crinkly surface, but we decided to 

 get back to Cape Evans. We came along in splendid weather, 

 and after stopping for a cup of tea at Razor Back, reached the 

 hut at 9 p.m., averaging 2 l A stat. miles an hour. During the 



VOL. I 20 



