126 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [JANUARY 



ney. They give a comprehensive account of what we actually 

 carried out, and I therefore insert them here, omitting only a 

 paragraph concerning Hut Point. 



' DEAR TAYLOR, 



' I purpose to disembark a sledge-party of which you 

 will have charge, on the sea ice of MacMurdo Sound as near 

 the Ferrar Glacier as possible. 



4 Your companions will be Messrs. Debenham, Wright, and 

 Petty Officer Evans. 



' You will have two sledges with food, and equipment for 

 eight weeks. 



' The object of your journey will be the geological explora- 

 tion of the region between the Dry Valley and the Koettlitz 

 Glacier. 



' Your movements must depend to some extent on the break- 

 ing of the sea ice. Your best and safest plan appears to be to 

 carry all your provision up the Ferrar Glacier to a point in the 

 medial moraine abreast of Descent Pass, and to make a depot 

 at that point. With a fortnight's food you could then continue 

 the ascent to the junction of the Dry Valley glacier and descend 

 the Valley of that glacier. On returning to your depot you will 

 be in a position to observe the extent of open water, and you 

 can either descend the glacier and pass to the east around Butter 

 Point, or climb Descent Pass, descending by the Blue Glacier 

 or by one of the more southerly foothill glaciers, and thus con- 

 tinue the examination of the Koettlitz Glacier area. 



' On completion of your work you should cross to Hut Point, 

 being careful not to camp too near open water. . . . 

 * Wishing you the best of luck, 



4 Yours sincerely, 



(sgd.) R. SCOTT.' 



With regard to our equipment only one feature deserves com- 

 ment. We carried an exceptionally large photographic battery, 

 which was necessitated by the character of the problems which 

 engaged our attention. For instance, Wright was chiefly in- 

 terested in the forms of ice-structure which we encountered. The 

 most delicate ice-crystals, which withered at a breath, must needs 

 be photographed in situ. There was no possibility of his bring- 

 ing back specimens for study in the hut during the dark winter 



