i 4 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [JULY 



us to think that the tidal action of the coast here was taken up 

 in part at any rate by the pressure ridges without forming any 

 definite tide crack. 



This excursion from our sledges gave us, as we thought, our 

 right direction for the safer land ice, but on turning ourselves with 

 them in that direction, we found we were still running into the 

 same crevassed mounds and ridges, so, finding a hollow with 

 deeper snow in it, we camped for the night, and decided to wait 

 until we could see exactly where we had got to. 



The absence of a well-marked tide crack which had rather 

 puzzled us in the Discovery days in the crossing of land-ice 

 slopes such as Terror Point (Cape McKay) and the 'second 

 snowcape,' both of which come straight down from Terror and 

 run into the pressure ridges, was a question which we had in our 

 minds all these days. We assuredly did cross several small cracks 

 on these slopes which had the appearance of a certain amount of 

 working, but their breadth was a matter of a couple of inches 

 only, and if tidal they must take up. only an insignificant fraction 

 of the movement. They are so small that they may easily have 

 been obscured by snowfall in the old days. Bowers is convinced 

 they are to be considered tidal cracks. I am not so sure myself, 

 and hope to have a better view of them by daylight before decid- 

 ing whether there is anything to take up tidal movement besides 

 the pressure ridges, which seem to me more than sufficient. 



This day the temp, ranged from 36-7 up to -27, with 

 light airs northerly and southerly. 



Some hours after midnight it began to blow and to snow more 

 heavily. 



The min. temp, for the night was - 24-5 up to noon the next 

 day. 



Monday, July 10, 1911. By noon a blizzard was blowing 

 from the S.S.W., of force 6 to 8, and the air was as thick as could 

 be with snow. This continued all day, and we lay wet and warm 

 in our bags, listening to the periodic movements of the ice pres- 

 sure, apparently tidal to some extent, beneath and about us. 



Tuesday, July n, 1911. The temp, at 10 A.M. went up to 

 + 7-8 'a rise of over 80 from the record minimum,' and at 

 8 P.M. was still 4- 6-8, with a minimum for the day of -f 3-2. 

 The wind came from S.W., force 5 to 9, and very squally. This 

 continued all day with a very considerable snowfall which packed 



