242 WITH SCOTT: THE SILVER LINING 



— we can't get back till March 27th. Now, no ship can 

 remain in the Sound as late as this, so that inevitably the Pole 

 party must stay another year ; and if a small party stays, 

 there might as well be a large party to carry out further 

 explorations." 



There was a long discussion on the possibility of getting 

 ponies up the great Beardmore Glacier. It turned largely 

 on the character of the glacier — so Dr. Bill came out with 

 a base suggestion that the physiographer be deputed to 

 read up all the available information, and give a lecture 

 thereon ! 



Ponting asked if the pony food could not be in part 

 edible by men. He was questioning our cavalry captain, and 

 boldly suggested that oats should be eaten — which double 

 entendre amused the House. 



Simpson has been wandering around disconsolately getting 

 people to smell a liquid in a bottle. Something is wrong 

 with the petrol engine, and all the engineering talent, including 

 the cook's, is at fault. Finally it was decided that this 

 doubtful liquid from the tank was kerosene, and not petrol, 

 and that perhaps a fresh supply of more suitable diet would 

 remedy matters. 



Ponting gave a lantern lecture on Burmah, which was 

 interesting to all of us. However, it had no bearing on 

 Antarctic topics, so that I made no notes thereon. 



I had been busy for some time on a series of maps, which 

 I proposed to send in to the editor of the South Polar Times. 

 It was evident that among the fifteen officers in the hut there 

 were many travellers, and it occurred to me that we had 

 practically covered the world. So I drew three maps, and in 

 place of the geographical names I inserted the names of the 

 travellers. Finally, I made a table of countries visited, and 

 those who were near the head of this table were quite keen 

 to see who was the greatest traveller — in this limited sense. 

 It was soon evident that the contest lay between Captain 

 Scott, the oldest, and Gran the youngest of the party ! The 

 " Owner " called out several times after I'd got his list, " Did 

 you put me down for Peru . . . and Azores, etc. ? ' 



The final results were — 



