372 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [January 



from S. to E., predominant E.S.E. Have had a cold little wind 

 from S.E. and S.S.E., where the sky is overcast. Have done 5-6 

 miles and are now over the 89th parallel. 



Night camp 6$- Height 10,270. T. -22-5, Minimum 

 23-5. Lat. 89 9' S. very nearly. We started very well in the 

 afternoon. Thought we were going to make a real good march, 

 but after the first two hours surface crystals became as sandy 

 as ever. Still we did 5-6 miles geo., giving over 11 for the day. 

 Well, another day with double figures and a bit over. The 

 chance holds. 



It looks as though we were descending slightly; sastrugi 

 remain as in forenoon. It is wearisome work this tugging and 

 straining to advance a light sledge. Still, we get along. I did 

 manage to get my thoughts off the work for a time to-day, 

 which is very restful. We should be in a poor way without our 

 ski, though Bowers manages to struggle through the soft snow 

 without tiring his short legs. 



Only 51 miles from the Pole to-night. If we don't get to 



it we shall be d d close. There is a little southerly breeze 



to-night; I devoutly hope it may increase in force. The alterna- 

 tion of soft snow and sastrugi seem to suggest that the coastal 

 mountains are not so very far away. 



Sunday, January 14. Camp 66. Lunch T. 18 , Night 

 T. - 1 5 . Sun showing mistily through overcast sky all day. 

 Bright southerly wind with very low drift. In consequence the 

 surface was a little better, and we came along very steadily 6-3 

 miles in the morning and 5-5 in the afternoon, but the steering 

 was awfully difficult and trying; very often I could see nothing, 

 and Bowers on my shoulders directed me. Under such circum- 

 stances it is an immense help to be pulling on ski. To-night it 

 is looking very thick. The sun can barely be distinguished, the 

 temperature has risen, and there are serious indications of a bliz- 

 zard. I trust they will not come to anything; there are practi- 

 cally no signs of heavy wind here, so that even if it blows a 

 little we may be able to march. Meanwhile we are less than 40 

 miles from the Pole. 



Again we noticed the cold; at lunch to-day (Obs. : Lat. 

 89 20' 53" S.) all our feet were cold, but this was mainly due 

 to the bald state of our finnesko. I put some grease under 

 the bare skin and found it made all the difference. Oates seems 



