156 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [NOVEMBER 



was fringed with mackerel cloud as if a great grey curtain 

 were being drawn away from the glorious snow-clad mountains 

 of the west. 



We reached Butter Point on the evening of the iyth. About 

 300 yards up the snow slope is the depot which has been used 

 by all the Western Parties since 1903. Here we found the boxes 

 left for us by Captain Scott in September. We dragged up the 

 small sledge and loaded it with meal, cocoa, sugar, and pemmi- 

 can. Then on the second trip we dragged down 330 Ibs. of 

 biscuit. 



Then we had a busy time in the two tents opening pemmican 

 and cocoa tins and sorting food. When Forde and Gran re- 

 packed the two sledges we had over 1200 Ibs. to drag along. 



LOAD OF THE WESTERN GEOLOGICAL PARTY 



* Tent ' sledge 50 



* Biscuit ' sledge 50 



Boots, stove, crampons 40 



Sleeping-bags (4) 50 



Personal gear (4) 60 



Tent, cooker, &c 35 



285 



Theodolite 12 



Cameras and plates 30 



Repair bag, &c 5 



Geological tools, &c 15 



Shovel and ice axes (3) 16 



78 



Food, &c. (14 weeks) , at 56 Ibs. a week, less 



4 weeks' pemmican 744 



Oil 100 



844 



Total 1207 



In face of the difficulty we had experienced with five men and 

 a less load I knew we should have a hard task when Nelson and 

 Anton left us. 



We left Butter Point on the i8th, and after seeing us well 



