"GETTING TO KNOW THE MEN" 7 



About this time I received a cable offering me a post on the 

 Commonwealth staff. Through the kindness of the authorities 

 concerned I was able to hold both positions concurrently ; and 

 I went South with a definite commission to study all the 

 scientific factors — but especially the meteorology — which 

 might concern Australian interests. 



Early in February Mawson came up to Cambridge to stay 

 a few days with me. We had passed through Sydney 

 University together, and done our early geological field work 

 under Professor David. We had kept in touch with each 

 other and had many common friends. During my cycle trip 

 through the Alps, Glasson (from Adelaide) told me that when 

 any of Mawson's acquaintance at Adelaide University wanted 

 chocolate, the explorer would take an ice-axe and break a lump 

 off the huge block he had looted from Shackleton's Expe- 

 dition ! I felt that an expedition of this type had peculiar 

 attractions for me, but, alas ! our chocolate supply was never 

 on such a prodigal scale. 



Mawson gave us a talk at the Research Students' Club 

 that evening. He told us many harrowing tales, and glances 

 of pity were bestowed on Wright and myself by the other 

 members of the club ! The next afternoon he was persuaded 

 to give a lecture in the geological school, so that we knew a 

 lot more of Antarctic conditions before he left. By this time 

 he had decided not to accept Scott's offer of a position on the 

 staff, but he gave all of us much useful information as to 

 equipment and research. 



Two other Cambridge men — both biologists — were ap- 

 pointed to the staff. I had heard of Lillie's adventures in the 

 Atlantic, where he had carried out anatomical dissections with 

 an axe ! His subjects were whales, on which, I take it, ordinary 

 instruments would have had but little effect. 



He was a John's man, while Nelson came from Christ's. 

 Nelson had been " down " for some time, working at the 

 Plymouth biological laboratory. I had heard of him from a 

 friend of mine who had worked there also. 



Wright, of Caius, had been a mate of mine for several terms. 

 He was a leading light in our Peripatetic Club, and was in fact 

 the best walker among the members. Wright and I heard so 

 much of the prowess of the naval men in every branch of 

 athletics that we decided to show them that the scientists had 



