H 



H 



"GETTING TO KNOW THE MEN" n 



anent killing skua gulls by throwing a slab of rock vertically 

 upward — I proved practically a few days after landing at Cape 

 Evans, as will appear in its own place. 



Meanwhile the Terra Nova had left Cardiff and slowly 

 sailed by the " wind-jammers' " route to New Zealand. They 

 had an exciting time at South Trinidad — a lonely island off 

 Brazil — swimming through shark-infested surf to the shore. 

 Here they made some biological collections, and on the 

 remainder of the voyage many of the land-lubbers became 

 respectable sailor-men. I hardly knew Wright when I saw 

 him reefing sails and running up the ratlines as if to the 

 manner born. 



The third geologist appointed on Professor David's 

 recommendation was Frank Debenham, scholar at my old 

 university, and a family friend for many years. Indeed, the 

 three sons of each family had gone to the same school, and 

 five of us to the same university. It was extremely pleasant 

 to be associated with men like Debenham and Wright, and I 

 was indeed fortunate to have them as sledge mates in the 

 difficult times to come. 



By degrees all the party were assembling at the Anti- 

 podes. Meares had been collecting dogs and ponies in 

 Manchuria. He had spent several years in this part of Asia, 

 and was already renowned for his journeys into unknown 

 Tibet. He passed through Sydney in October — accom- 

 panied by Lieutenant Bruce — a few days before I arrived. 



Captain Scott, Wilson, and Simpson were now in 

 Australia busy on various matters. During the voyage 

 Simpson and Wright had carried out experiments on the 

 electrical state of the air, and the latter was now engaged on 

 testing and standardizing his pendulum apparatus before he 

 left civilization. 



On the 22nd of October, 19 10, Debenham and I left 

 Sydney for New Zealand. We were to join Captain Scott 

 at Christchurch, and the Terra Nova was now lying at 

 Lyttelton — the port of that city. 



Some of the officers I did not meet until I reached New 

 Zealand. There was Ponting, whose beautiful book on Japan 

 had just appeared. He had had a most varied experience, 

 including mining and ranching in California, before his genius 

 in artistic photography manifested itself. He and Meares 





