too GEOGRAPHY 



The main party was occupied in scientific work in various directions, besides laying 

 depots for the advance towards the Pole. Dr. E. A. Wilson, writing from McMurdo 

 Sound on October 31, 191 1, reported that regular observations had been made of 

 atmospheric pressure, temperature, and velocity and direction of wind, and that the 

 upper atmosphere had been studied by means of small balloons for the first time in the 

 Antarctic. Magnetic observations, gravity observations by pendulum, and tidal 

 observations had been kept up; marine biology, parasitology, and ice study had received 

 attention. Wilson led a remarkable expedition in June-August (winter), 1911, across 

 the barrier to Cape Crozier, to study the winter breeding of the Emperor penguins. 

 Petrological investigations revealed various mineral quartz veins. 



The work of depot-laying being completed, Scott with the main polar party started 

 on November 2, 1911, and proceeded at first by easy stages. He reached the continental 

 plateau by way of Beardmore glacier on December 10, and was left by the last support- 

 ing party on January 4, 1912 in 8736' S., within 150 miles of the Pole. Lieut. Evans, 

 who led this party, was overtaken by scurvy, and returned to New Zealand (April 

 i, 191 2) on the " Terra Nova," but otherwise the health of all had been generally good. 

 The latest news then brought from Scott was that he was about to move forward, 

 with Dr. Wilson, Capt. Gates, Lieut. Bowers and petty-officer Evans as his compan- 

 ions. It was only on Feb. 10, 1913, that their tragic fate became known. The "Terra 

 Nova" returned that day to New Zealand, having learnt on Jan. 18 at Cape Evans 

 that, after successfully reaching the Pole on Jan. 18, 1912, and there finding Amund- 

 sen's tent and records (see below), they had perished on their return journey. Petty- 

 officer Evans had died on Feb. 17 after an accident; the others were then caught in a 

 prolonged blizzard, u miles south of One Ton Camp, and succumbed to exhaustion, 

 Gates on March 17, the others (whose bodies were found by a search party under Sur- 

 geon Atkinson on Nov. 12) about March 29. A diary kept by Scott up to v March 25 

 was found, in which he left a characteristically brave last message, explaining the mis- 

 fortunes to which their end was due, and appealing to his countrymen to provide for 

 their dependents. 



It became known towards the end of 1910 that Capt. Roald Amundsen, the Nor- 

 wegian explorer, before making a crossing of the Arctic region, for which plans had been 

 announced, was to visit the Antarctic, and make an attempt to reach the South Pole. 

 On February 4, 1911 the " Terra Nova " found the Norwegian expedition established 

 in the Bay of Whales, but Scott, who had heard of Amundsen's intentions in New 

 Zealand, did not allow them to affect his own plans. News was received later that 

 Amundsen had been successful* having reached the Pole on December 14-17, 191 1. His 

 expedition was favoured with good weather conditions not only for the polar march but 

 during practically the whole year of its sojourn in the Antarctic, while the march itself, 

 thanks to a careful system of depots and efficient teams of sledge-dogs, was carried out 

 without any of the deprivation and suffering characteristic of previous polar journeys. 

 The journey southward from the base about 870 miles occupied 56 days, the greatest 

 elevation reached on the plateau being 10,750 ft.; the return march was made in 39 days. 

 Three days were spent at or in the vicinity of the Pole, complete observations being 

 taken. The polar plateau was named King Haakon VII Plateau, and the name of 

 Queen Maud was given to a range of lofty mountains (10,000-15,000 ft.) which were 

 observed between about 85 and 88 S., being a continuation of the mountains of South 

 Victoria Land. Other investigations were carried out near and east of the Bay of 

 Whales by a party under Lieut. Prestrud left behind at the base, while Nansen's famous 

 old ship, the " Fram " (Capt. Nilsen)> after landing the expedition, was employed in 

 oceanographical research over a wide area. 



An expedition left Germany in May 1911. It was led by Lieut. Filchner, who 

 previously made a journey to Spitsbergen for the sake of experience. His plans were 

 to proceed by way of South America to Coats Land, the coast of which was to be traced 

 south or south-west, and a base station was to be established. An attempt was con- 

 templated to cross the lower part of the Antarctic continent to Ross Sea. The ship (the 



