220 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [MAY 



the sleeping-bags, which were in sad need of repair. Luckily 

 the ship had left us with a good supply of reindeer skin and 

 there was plenty to go round and fill up the bare patches in the 

 sleeping-bags. 



The mule gear which had been supplied by the Indian 

 Government showed the very greatest forethought in every 

 detail. There were only very slight alterations to be made, 

 more especially in the texture of the gear. The mules had been 

 supplied with a form of canvas snow-goggles, for the ponies 

 in the previous year had suffered badly from snow blindness. 

 These goggles saved the mules from this amount of discomfort 

 when they were on the Barrier. We also realised that owing 

 to their small hoofs they would probably have to use snow-shoes. 

 These had been supplied, and on trying the mules with them 

 most of the animals after a very short time took to them quite 

 naturally. 



Debenham had been given charge of all photographic gear; 

 and was. out continually taking photographs of general and scien- 

 tific interest. 



On May 10 Nelson lectured on the tides, the main interest 

 of his contention being that with the greatest declination of the 

 moon the movement of ice was more probable. 



A never-failing source of amusement after dinner every night 

 has been a form of bagatelle which is played on a mess table. 

 The table was covered with a strip of green Willesden canvas 

 stretched between two long boards which formed the cushions. 

 Between these boards at the top of the table a bridge fits, having 

 in it a number of holes. The object is to get the balls into these 

 holes, the score being according to the number above the hole. 

 A competition was arranged and the lowest scorer of the com- 

 petition received the Jonah Medal. Having obtained this, he 

 had to announce at luncheon each day ' Gentlemen, I am the 

 Jonah.' This he continued to do until someone else had relieved 

 him of the medal. 



The ice in the North Bay now froze again to a thickness of 

 4 to 5 inches. Nelson started again to build his igloo on the ice 

 in the South Bay to carry on his biological work. When he had 

 pricked the ice the water came through and flowed over the floor 

 of his igloo. The ice, being thin, was pressed down at the spot 

 where the weight bore on it. 



