322 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [November 



was an hour before us at the final camp, 13% (geo.) miles. 

 On the whole, and considering the weights, the ponies did very 

 well, but the surface was comparatively good. Christopher 

 showed signs of trouble at start, but was coaxed into position 

 for the traces to be hooked. There was some ice on his runner 

 and he had a very heavy drag, therefore a good deal done on 

 arrival; also his load seems heavier and deader than the others. 

 It is early days to wonder whether the little beasts will last; 

 one can only hope they will, but the weakness of breeding and 

 age is showing itself already. 



The crocks have done wonderfully, so there is really no 

 saying how long or well the fitter animals may go. We had a 

 horribly cold wind on the march. Temp. - 18 , force 3. The 

 sun was shining but seemed to make little difference. It is still 

 shining brightly, temp. n. Behind the pony walls it is won- 

 derfully warm and the animals look as snug as possible. 



Saturday, November 18. Camp 14. The ponies are not 

 pulling well. The surface is, if anything, a little worse than 

 yesterday, but I should think about the sort of thing we shall 

 have to expect henceforward. I had a panic that we were carry- 

 ing too much food and this morning we have discussed the mat- 

 ter and decided we can leave a sack. We have done the usual 

 13 miles (geog. ) with a few hundred yards to make the 15 

 statute. The temperature was 21 when we camped last night, 

 now it is 3 . The crocks are going on very wonderfully. 

 Oates gives Chinaman at least three days, and Wright says he 

 may go for a week. This is slightly inspiriting, but how much 

 better would it have been to have had ten really reliable beasts. 

 It's touch and go whether we scrape up to the Glacier; mean- 

 while we get along somehow. At any rate the bright sunshine 

 makes everything look more hopeful. 



Sunday, November 19. Camp 15. We have struck a real 

 bad surface, sledges pulling well over it, but ponies sinking very 

 deep. The result is to about finish Jehu. He was terribly done 

 on getting in to-night. He may go another march, but not more, 

 I think. Considering the surface the other ponies did well. 

 The ponies occasionally sink halfway to the hock, little Michael 

 once or twice almost to the hock itself. Luckily the weather now 

 is glorious for resting the animals, which are very placid and 

 quiet in the brilliant sun. The sastrugi are confused, the under- 



