62 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [MARCH 



We used to start work every morning at 6, and knock off be- 

 tween 8 and 9 every evening, by which time we were pretty 

 tired. 



By an oversight only two hammers had been landed, so four 

 unfortunates had to use Priestley's geological hammers. These 

 are heavy, square-headed implements, designed to chip, and 

 judging by our mangled fingers the man who made them knew 

 his business. We had rather a shock on Friday, when on ex- 

 amining the fifteen carcases of frozen mutton left by the ship 

 we found them to be covered with green mould. 



They must have been in this condition on board, as we 

 buried them in the ice as soon as they were landed; anyhow 

 we had to condemn them, to the great delight of the skua 

 gulls; but penguins and seals are plentiful, so we shall not be 

 short of fresh meat. 



While at work on the Saturday we heard a loud report up 

 at the head of the bay, and through our glasses we could see 

 that a large piece of the Dugdale Glacier tongue had broken 

 off. 



By working late Saturday night we had the outside of the 

 hut ready and the guys set up, so on Sunday we had a wash 

 and change of clothes, church in the forenoon and a day off, 

 which gave us an opportunity for a look round. 



The view is magnificent: to the southward we see the Ad- 

 miralty Range of mountains, with Mts. Sabine, Minto and 

 Adam rising to over 10,000 feet; away to the west the moun- 

 tains are not so high, but completely snow-covered, and slope 

 gradually down to Cape North; behind us are the black basalt 

 cliffs of the Cape Adare Peninsula, and in one place there is 

 quite an easy way to the top. When we landed we found 

 Borchgrevink's hut inhabited by a solitary moulting penguin. 

 He was very indignant at being turned out and stood all day 

 at the door scolding us. He also did showman to the crowds 

 of sightseers who came to watch us. I am afraid many of 

 the sightseers got knocked on the head and put in the ice house. 

 It is brutal work, for they are such friendly little beasts, and take 

 such an interest in us, but they and the seals are our only fresh 

 meat. 



Sunday, March 5. We have put in a good week's work, 

 thanks to fine weather. The hut was ready and we moved in 



