232 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. Februab* 



of misty weather we could not clearly distinguish each 

 other's faces. Calm weather with a temperature at 

 minus 20° permitted us all to lengthen our usual daily 

 walk. 



1 The late gale from the northward having raised a 

 new set of snow ridges at right angles to the usual line 

 of the sastrugi, which lies in an east and west direction, 

 has rendered walking more laborious than it was before. 

 The " ladies' mile " has now many ridges crossing it ; 

 fortunately the quickly returning light will soon enable 

 us to leave that well-worn track. Feilden and I 

 reached the valley under Cape Eawson, but owing 

 to the deceptive light and want of shadow we ex- 

 perienced many a slip over the rough places, being 

 unable to distinguish the raised from the depressed 

 irregularities in the snow. 



' The last of the patients that were frost-bitten in 

 the autumn got on deck to-day, after spending nearly 

 four months on the lower-deck and the greater part of 

 the time in bed.' 



It is to be remarked that three out of the four 

 frost-bitten men, who obtained so little exercise during 

 the winter, proved themselves in the spring to be in 

 an excellent state of health, and although they were 

 not employed on the most extended sledging service, 

 they were absent from the ship as long and performed 

 as hard work as any of the other men. 



' 8th. — Since the late gales we have enjoyed mag- 

 nificent weather with a temperature just below the 

 freezing point of mercury. 



' I walked towards Cape Eawson with Mr. Pullen. 

 The rocky sides of the valley near Cape Eawson, swept 



