i 9 o2] VIEW TO THE SOUTH 57 



Between the high range and the barrier there must lie immense 

 undulating snow-plateaux covering the lesser foothills, which 

 seem rather to increase in height to the left until they fall 

 sharply to the barrier level almost due south of us. 



1 To the eastward of this, again, we get our view to the 

 farthest south, and we have been studying it again and again 

 to gather fresh information with the changing bearings of the 

 sun. Mount Longstaff we calculate as 10,000 feet. It is 

 formed by the meeting of two long and comparatively regular 

 slopes ; that to the east stretches out into the barrier and ends 

 in a long snow-cape which bears about S. 14 E. ; that to the 

 west is lost behind the nearer foothills, but now fresh features 

 have developed about these slopes. Over the western ridge 

 can be seen two new peaks which must lie considerably to the 

 south of the mountain, and, more interesting still, beyond the 

 eastern cape we catch a glimpse of an extended coastline ; 

 the land is thrown up by mirage and appears in small white 

 patches against a pale sky. 



We know well this appearance of a snow-covered country ; 

 it is the normal view in these regions of a very distant lofty 

 land, and it indicates with certainty that a mountainous country 

 continues beyond Mount Longstaff for nearly fifty miles. The 

 direction of the extreme land thrown up in this manner is 

 S. 17 E., and hence we can now say with certainty that the 

 coastline after passing Mount Longstaft continues in this 

 direction for at least a degree of latitude. Of course one can- 

 not add that the level barrier surface likewise continues, as 

 one's view of it is limited to a very narrow horizon ; but anyone 

 who had travelled over it as we have done, and who now, like 

 us, could gaze on these distant lands beyond its level margin, 

 could have little doubt that it does so. 



1 It is fortunate to have had such glorious weather to give 

 us a clear view of this magnificent scene, for very soon now 

 we must be turning, and though we may advance a few miles 

 we cannot hope to add largely to our store of information.' 



'It has been a busy evening, what with taking angles, 

 sketching, and attending to our camp duties, but hours so full 



