19"] A MOTOR BREAKS DOWN 311 



from Evans and Day told the tale. The only spare had been 

 used for Lashly's machine, and it would have taken a long time 

 to strip Day's engine so that it could run on three cylinders. 

 They had decided to abandon it and push on with the other 

 alone. They had taken the six bags of forage and some odds 

 and ends, besides their petrol and lubricant. So the dream of 

 great help from the machines is at an end! The track of the 

 remaining motor goes steadily forward, but now, of course, I 

 shall expect to see it every hour of the march. 



The ponies did pretty well a cruel soft surface most of 

 the time, but light loads, of course. Jehu is better than I ex- 

 pected to find him, Chinaman not so well. They are bad crocks 

 both of them. 



It was pretty cold during the night, 7 when we camped, 

 with a crisp breeze blowing. The ponies don't like it, but now, 

 as I write, the sun is shining through a white haze, the wind has 

 dropped, and the picketing line is comfortable for the poor beasts. 



This, 1 P.M., is the feeding hour the animals are not yet 

 on feed, but they are coming on. 



The wind vane left here in the spring shows a predominance 

 of wind from the S.W. quarter. Maximum scratching, about 

 S.W. by W. 



Sunday, November 5. Camp 3. ' Corner Camp.' We 

 came over the last lap of the first journey in good order 

 ponies doing well in soft surface, but, of course, lightly loaded. 

 To-night will show what we can do with the heavier weights. 

 A very troubled note from Evans (with motor) written on 

 morning of 2nd, saying maximum speed was about 7 miles per 

 day. They have taken on nine bags of forage, but there are 

 three black dots to the south which we can only imagine are the 

 deserted motor with its loaded sledges. The men have gone 

 on as a supporting party, as directed. It is a disappointment. 

 I had hoped better of the machines once they got away on the 

 Barrier Surface. 



The appetites of the ponies are very fanciful. They do not 

 like the oil cake, but for the moment seem to take to some 

 fodder left here. However, they are off that again to-day. 

 It is a sad pity they won't eat well now, because later on one 

 can imagine how ravenous they will become. Chinaman and 

 Jehu will not go far I fear. 



