276 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [MARCH 



during thick weather, the ship was beset with icebergs and at 

 slow speed steamed for six miles along the face of one huge berg. 

 She was in a narrow channel out of which she could not work 

 owing to the close grouping of detached icebergs which lay on 

 the other hand. 



This last season the ice conditions appeared to be the worst 

 on record as far as the exterior ice was concerned, but close to 

 Victoria Land we were never seriously hampered. 



The biological, magnetic, and hydrographical work was con- 

 tinued on our homeward voyage, and on February 10, at 3 A.M., 

 the ship reached Oamuru, a small port on the east coast of South 

 Island, New Zealand. Here Lieutenant Pennell and Dr. At- 

 kinson were landed with the Commander's despatch, which was 

 sent to the Central News for simultaneous distribution through- 

 out the world. 



The Terra Nova remained at sea until Wednesday, Feb- 

 ruary 12, when she returned to Lyttelton. 



Her entry into the harbour was very different from the 

 happy return we had so looked forward to. 



With flags at half-mast we steamed into the port and were 

 berthed alongside the Harbour Board shed by Captain Thorpe, 

 the harbour-master. Thousands came to meet us and quietly 

 notified their sympathy, and for many days afterwards we re- 

 ceived messages of condolence from all parts of the world. 



THE VOYAGE HOME 



The ship sailed from Lyttelton on her homeward voyage 

 on March 13, 1913, under the command of Lieutenant Pennell. 

 In the ward room, besides the Captain, were Rennick, Nelson, 

 Lillie, Levick, Anderson, Mr. Williams and Mr. Cheetham. 

 When Bruce went home by mail steamer with Lady Scott, Nelson 

 volunteered for the position of second mate, and proved himself 

 a most efficient officer. Mr. Gibson Anderson of Christchurch 

 volunteered for the voyage, and was taken on for coal trimming. 



The ship had thirteen dogs on board, going home as pets of 

 various members. Davies built platforms for the dogs; these 

 stood about ten inches off the deck and had a ledge three or four 

 inches high, so that in wet weather the animals would be off the 

 decks and in hot weather have air circulating under them, while, 



