20 THE VOYAGE OF THE < DISCOVERY' [Nov. 



wheels trundled behind the sledge it revolved the mechanism 

 of the counter so as to show the number of yards travelled. As 

 I think I have said, at first we all thought we were walking 

 very long distances through the snow, and when we adopted 

 the sledge-meter and it showed us the chilling truth, many 

 were inclined to be sceptical of its accuracy until it was found 

 that when there was a difference of opinion between the party 

 and the sledge-meter, astronomical observations invariably 

 decided in favour of the latter, so that we were obliged to 

 acknowledge that it was we, and not the sledge-meter, who 

 were going too slowly. 



After our experience one cannot help thinking that not a 

 few sledging records would have been modified had this truth- 

 telling instrument always been available ; it is to be recom- 

 mended to future expeditions, not only for this reason, but on 

 account of the excellent check it affords to the position of a 

 sledge party for geographical purposes. 



1 November 19. — The sun was shining when we started 

 to-day, and the fine snow was falling continuously ; it is a 

 drizzle of tiny crystals, which settle on the sledges and quickly 

 evaporate. The effect on the surface is very bad, and the 

 dogs are growing more and more listless. We could only 

 advance four and three-quarter miles, and that only by hard 

 driving and going longer than we have yet gone. Two of us 

 always pull on the traces whilst the third drives; the latter 

 task is by far the most dreaded. In going to the rear for the 

 second half-load, we always carry an empty sledge, and up to 

 the present, to prevent confusion of the traces, someone has 

 sat on the sledge, but to-day even this appeared to be a per- 

 ceptible drag on our poor animals. 



' It is very tiring work. When one goes out in the morn- 

 ing there is now no joyous clamour of welcome ; one or two of 

 the animals have to be roused up out of their nests, then we 

 start in a spiritless fashion. We take our duties in turns ; one 

 of us attaches his harness to the head of the trace, and whilst 

 he pulls he endeavours [to cheer on the flagging team. A 

 second takes the best position, which is to pull alongside the 



