mi] THE FIRST PONY SHOT 325 



speaking broadly, the crusts are not comparatively bad and the 

 surface is rather better than it was. If the hot sun continues 

 this should still further improve. One cannot see any reason 

 why the crust should change in the next 100 miles. (Temp. 

 + 2 .) 



The land is visible along the western horizon in patches. 

 Bowers points out a continuous dark band. Is this the dolerite 

 sill? 



Thursday, November 23. Camp 19. Getting along. I 

 think the ponies will get through; we are now 150 geographical 

 miles from the Glacier. But it is still rather touch and go. If 

 one or more ponies were to go rapidly down hill we might be in 

 queer street. The surface is much the same I think; before lunch 

 there seemed to be a marked improvement, and after lunch the 

 ponies marched much better, so that one supposed a betterment 

 of the friction. It is banking up to the south (T. +9) and 

 I'm afraid we may get a blizzard. I hope to goodness it is 

 not going to stop one marching; forage won't allow that. 



Friday, November 24. Camp 20. There was a cold wind 

 changing from south to S.E. and overcast sky all day yesterday. 

 A gloomy start to our march, but the cloud rapidly lifted, bands 

 of clear sky broke through from east to west, and the remnants 

 of cloud dissipated. Now the sun is very bright and warm. 

 We did the usual march very easily over a fairly good surface, 

 the ponies now quite steady and regular. Since the junction with 

 the Motor Party the procedure has been for the man-hauling 

 people to go forward just ahead of the crocks, the other party 

 following 2 or 3 hours later. To-day we closed less than usual, 

 so that the crocks must have been going very well. However, 

 the fiat had already gone forth, and this morning after the march 

 poor old Jehu was led back on the track and shot. After our 

 doubts as to his reaching Hut Point, it is wonderful to think that 

 he has actually got eight marches beyond our last year limit 

 and could have gone more. However, towards the end he was 

 pulling very little, and on the whole it is merciful to have ended 

 his life. Chinaman seems to improve and will certainly last 

 a good many days yet. The rest show no signs of flagging and 

 are only moderately hungry. The surface is tiring for walking, 

 as one sinks two or three inches nearly all the time. I feel we 

 ought to get through now. Day and Hooper leave us to-night. 



