TOWARD CAPE ADARE 59 



We left early in the afternoon, and after sounding and 

 dredging in the bay, proceeded west along the Barrier, of which 

 there still remained nearly 100 miles we had not seen. 



Outside the bay we were unlucky enough to pick up a S.W. 

 wind, but with clear weather we kept close along the Barrier 

 edge to long. 170 W., where we had left it on our way east, 

 without seeing any inlet or possible place to land. This was a 

 great disappointment to us all, but there was nothing for it but 

 to return to McMurdo Sound to communicate with the main 

 party and then try and effect a landing in the vicinity of Smith's 

 Inlet or as far to the westward as possible on the north coast 

 of Victoria Land, and if possible to explore the unknown coast 

 west of Cape North. 



We therefore made the best of our way to Cape Evans, and 

 in spite of a moderate S.W. gale arrived on the evening of 

 the 8th. 



Here I decided to land the two ponies, as they would be 

 very little use to us on the mountainous coast of Victoria Land, 

 and in view of the Norwegian expedition I felt the Southern 

 Party would require all the transport available. 



After landing the ponies we steamed up to the sea ice by 

 Glacier Tongue, and from there, taking Priestley and Abbott, 

 I went with letters to leave at Hut Point, where the Depot 

 Party would call on their way back. The surface was good and 

 we got back to the ship about 3 A.M., and then proceeded to 

 water ship at Glacier Tongue. While watering ship an accident 

 occurred which might have been serious. The ship was secured 

 alongside, and Abbott was just stepping ashore when a large 

 piece of ice broke away with him on it and fell between the 

 ship and the ice edge. Luckily he was not hurt, and was soon 

 pulled on board again, none the worse, except for a ducking. 



By 8 o'clock in the evening of the 9th we were all ready, and 

 proceeded north with a fair S.E. wind, but thick snow. 



During the afternoon of February I2th the wind freshened 

 into a gale with heavy snow, and not wanting to close Cape 

 Adare in such thick weather we hove to under main lower 

 topsail with Cape Adare bearing N.W., distant 20 miles. 



During the night the wind increased, and continued blowing 

 a very heavy gale until the evening of the I5th. In spite of the 

 very heavy sea the ship was fairly dry, but being so light we 



