i 9 02] PERSONAL DISCOMFORTS 23 



be climbing the steepest of hills all day, but the fact that we 

 can always see our advanced or rear sledges from the other end 

 shows that there must be an absence of inequality ; even the 

 man who sits on the returning sledge with his eye not more 

 than three feet above the surface rarely loses sight of these tiny 

 black dots. It is surprising that although a sledge appears as 

 a very minute object at two and a half miles, it can generally 

 be seen clearly against the white background. On dull days, 

 however, I am not sure but that it is a risk to advance them 

 so far.' 



1 November 22. — The surface is becoming smoother, with 

 less sastrugi, but the snow covering is, if anything, thicker ; 

 one sinks deeper, and there is no reduction of friction on the 

 sledge runners. After lunch we made a trial to start with full 

 loads ; the dogs made a gallant effort, but could scarcely move 

 the sledges, and we had to proceed as before. With this land 

 ahead we ought to get some variation of the monotony of our 

 present travelling, but there is a fear that the snow may get still 

 softer as we approach it. 



1 We are growing very sunburnt, and noses and lips are 

 getting blistered and cracked and extremely sore ; lips are 

 especially painful, as one cannot help licking them on the 

 march, and this makes them worse. With the constant varia- 

 tions of temperature and the necessary application of the hot 

 rim of the pannikin they get no chance to heal ; hazeline cream 

 is in much request at night to deaden the burning. We have 

 also had some trouble with our eyes, though we wear goggles 

 very regularly. Our appetites seem to be increasing by leaps 

 and bounds : it is almost alarming, and the only thing to be 

 looked to on our long marches is the prospect of the next 

 meal.' 



1 November 23. — . . . There was a distinct improvement 

 in the surface to-day, with a N.N.E. wind rolling the snow along 

 like fine sand ; in this way the old hard surface crust became 

 exposed in patches, and the sledges drew easily over these. 

 Altogether we have advanced 5! miles, travelling over 15^ 

 miles to do it. We raised the land considerably, and were 



